diff --git a/_quarto.yml b/_quarto.yml
index 3ffb0e627..d50db8845 100644
--- a/_quarto.yml
+++ b/_quarto.yml
@@ -285,6 +285,7 @@ website:
             - docs/custom_integrations.qmd
             - docs/sequence_parallelism.qmd
             - docs/gradient_checkpointing.qmd
+            - docs/moe_backends.md
             - docs/nd_parallelism.qmd
 
         - section: "Troubleshooting"
diff --git a/src/axolotl/kernels/moe/torch_grouped.py b/src/axolotl/kernels/moe/torch_grouped.py
index 7b356f834..38c0bb2b7 100644
--- a/src/axolotl/kernels/moe/torch_grouped.py
+++ b/src/axolotl/kernels/moe/torch_grouped.py
@@ -32,6 +32,16 @@ LAST_ERROR: Optional[str] = None
 _LOGGER = logging.getLogger("axolotl.moe.grouped")
 
 
+def _is_mixtral_layout(mod: torch.nn.Module) -> bool:
+    return all(hasattr(mod, attr) for attr in ("w1", "w3", "w2"))
+
+
+def _is_qwen_layout(mod: torch.nn.Module) -> bool:
+    has_fused = hasattr(mod, "gate_up_proj")
+    has_split = hasattr(mod, "up_proj") and hasattr(mod, "gate_proj")
+    return (has_fused or has_split) and hasattr(mod, "down_proj")
+
+
 def _call_grouped_mm(
     As: List[torch.Tensor], Bs: List[torch.Tensor]
 ) -> Optional[List[torch.Tensor]]:
@@ -96,33 +106,27 @@ def moe_ffn_forward_grouped(
         flat_idx = topk_idx.view(-1)
         x_rep = x.repeat_interleave(top_k, dim=0)
 
-        # Cache stacked weights on experts (support Mixtral and Qwen2-MoE layouts)
+        # Cache stacked weights on experts (support Mixtral and Qwen-style layouts)
         E = experts_module.num_experts
         dev, dt = x.device, x.dtype
         first = experts_module[0]
-        is_mixtral = (
-            hasattr(first, "w1") and hasattr(first, "w3") and hasattr(first, "w2")
-        )
-        is_qwen2 = (
-            hasattr(first, "gate_up_proj")
-            or hasattr(first, "gate_proj")
-            or hasattr(first, "up_proj")
-        ) and hasattr(first, "down_proj")
-        # try nested mlp/ffn module
-        nested = None
+
+        is_mixtral = _is_mixtral_layout(first)
+        is_qwen2 = _is_qwen_layout(first)
+        nested_attr: Optional[str] = None
         if not (is_mixtral or is_qwen2):
-            nested = getattr(first, "mlp", None) or getattr(first, "ffn", None)
-            if nested is not None:
-                is_mixtral = (
-                    hasattr(nested, "w1")
-                    and hasattr(nested, "w3")
-                    and hasattr(nested, "w2")
-                )
-                is_qwen2 = (
-                    hasattr(nested, "gate_up_proj")
-                    or hasattr(nested, "gate_proj")
-                    or hasattr(nested, "up_proj")
-                ) and hasattr(nested, "down_proj")
+            for candidate in ("mlp", "ffn"):
+                nested = getattr(first, candidate, None)
+                if nested is None:
+                    continue
+                if _is_mixtral_layout(nested):
+                    is_mixtral = True
+                    nested_attr = candidate
+                    break
+                if _is_qwen_layout(nested):
+                    is_qwen2 = True
+                    nested_attr = candidate
+                    break
         if not (is_mixtral or is_qwen2):
             if not getattr(experts_module, "_ax_grouped_logged_fail", False):
                 _LOGGER.warning(
@@ -131,81 +135,101 @@ def moe_ffn_forward_grouped(
                 experts_module._ax_grouped_logged_fail = True
             return None, None
 
-        if is_mixtral:
-            if (
-                not hasattr(experts_module, "_stacked_w1")
-                or experts_module._stacked_w1.device != dev
-                or experts_module._stacked_w1.dtype != dt
-            ):
-                w1 = [experts_module[i].w1.weight.t() for i in range(E)]
-                w3 = [experts_module[i].w3.weight.t() for i in range(E)]
-                w2 = [experts_module[i].w2.weight.t() for i in range(E)]
-                experts_module._stacked_w1 = (
-                    torch.stack(w1, dim=0)
-                    .to(device=dev, dtype=dt, non_blocking=True)
-                    .contiguous()
+        def _resolve_expert(idx: int):
+            expert = experts_module[idx]
+            if nested_attr is None:
+                return expert
+            nested_mod = getattr(expert, nested_attr, None)
+            if nested_mod is None:
+                raise AttributeError(
+                    f"expert {idx} missing nested module '{nested_attr}'"
                 )
-                experts_module._stacked_w3 = (
-                    torch.stack(w3, dim=0)
-                    .to(device=dev, dtype=dt, non_blocking=True)
-                    .contiguous()
-                )
-                experts_module._stacked_w2 = (
-                    torch.stack(w2, dim=0)
-                    .to(device=dev, dtype=dt, non_blocking=True)
-                    .contiguous()
-                )
-                experts_module._stacked_w13 = torch.cat(
-                    [experts_module._stacked_w1, experts_module._stacked_w3], dim=-1
-                ).contiguous()
-            W13 = experts_module._stacked_w13
-            W2 = experts_module._stacked_w2
-        else:
-            # Qwen2/3 MoE style: either gate_up_proj (2I x H) or (up_proj + gate_proj), down_proj (H x I)
-            if (
-                not hasattr(experts_module, "_stacked_w13")
-                or experts_module._stacked_w13.device != dev
-                or experts_module._stacked_w13.dtype != dt
-            ):
-                w13 = []
-                w2 = []
-                for i in range(E):
-                    exp = experts_module[i]
-                    mod = nested if nested is not None else exp
-                    # prefer fused gate_up_proj if present
-                    if hasattr(mod, "gate_up_proj"):
-                        w13.append(mod.gate_up_proj.weight.t())
-                    elif hasattr(mod, "up_proj") and hasattr(mod, "gate_proj"):
-                        # concatenate [up | gate] along N
-                        w13.append(
-                            torch.cat(
-                                [mod.up_proj.weight.t(), mod.gate_proj.weight.t()],
-                                dim=-1,
+            return nested_mod
+
+        try:
+            if is_mixtral:
+                if (
+                    not hasattr(experts_module, "_stacked_w1")
+                    or experts_module._stacked_w1.device != dev
+                    or experts_module._stacked_w1.dtype != dt
+                ):
+                    mods = [_resolve_expert(i) for i in range(E)]
+                    w1 = [mod.w1.weight.t() for mod in mods]
+                    w3 = [mod.w3.weight.t() for mod in mods]
+                    w2 = [mod.w2.weight.t() for mod in mods]
+                    experts_module._stacked_w1 = (
+                        torch.stack(w1, dim=0)
+                        .to(device=dev, dtype=dt, non_blocking=True)
+                        .contiguous()
+                    )
+                    experts_module._stacked_w3 = (
+                        torch.stack(w3, dim=0)
+                        .to(device=dev, dtype=dt, non_blocking=True)
+                        .contiguous()
+                    )
+                    experts_module._stacked_w2 = (
+                        torch.stack(w2, dim=0)
+                        .to(device=dev, dtype=dt, non_blocking=True)
+                        .contiguous()
+                    )
+                    experts_module._stacked_w13 = torch.cat(
+                        [experts_module._stacked_w1, experts_module._stacked_w3], dim=-1
+                    ).contiguous()
+                W13 = experts_module._stacked_w13
+                W2 = experts_module._stacked_w2
+            else:
+                # Qwen-style MoE: either gate_up_proj (2I x H) or (up_proj + gate_proj), down_proj (H x I)
+                if (
+                    not hasattr(experts_module, "_stacked_w13")
+                    or experts_module._stacked_w13.device != dev
+                    or experts_module._stacked_w13.dtype != dt
+                ):
+                    w13 = []
+                    w2 = []
+                    for i in range(E):
+                        mod = _resolve_expert(i)
+                        # prefer fused gate_up_proj if present
+                        if hasattr(mod, "gate_up_proj"):
+                            w13.append(mod.gate_up_proj.weight.t())
+                        elif hasattr(mod, "up_proj") and hasattr(mod, "gate_proj"):
+                            # concatenate [up | gate] along N
+                            w13.append(
+                                torch.cat(
+                                    [mod.up_proj.weight.t(), mod.gate_proj.weight.t()],
+                                    dim=-1,
+                                )
                             )
-                        )
-                    else:
-                        LAST_ERROR = "unrecognized Qwen MoE expert weight layout"
-                        if not getattr(
-                            experts_module, "_ax_grouped_logged_fail", False
-                        ):
-                            _LOGGER.warning(
-                                "torch_grouped: could not resolve Qwen MoE expert weights; fallback to naive"
-                            )
-                            experts_module._ax_grouped_logged_fail = True
-                        return None, None
-                    w2.append((mod.down_proj.weight.t()))
-                experts_module._stacked_w13 = (
-                    torch.stack(w13, dim=0)
-                    .to(device=dev, dtype=dt, non_blocking=True)
-                    .contiguous()
+                        else:
+                            LAST_ERROR = "unrecognized Qwen MoE expert weight layout"
+                            if not getattr(
+                                experts_module, "_ax_grouped_logged_fail", False
+                            ):
+                                _LOGGER.warning(
+                                    "torch_grouped: could not resolve Qwen MoE expert weights; fallback to naive"
+                                )
+                                experts_module._ax_grouped_logged_fail = True
+                            return None, None
+                        w2.append(mod.down_proj.weight.t())
+                    experts_module._stacked_w13 = (
+                        torch.stack(w13, dim=0)
+                        .to(device=dev, dtype=dt, non_blocking=True)
+                        .contiguous()
+                    )
+                    experts_module._stacked_w2 = (
+                        torch.stack(w2, dim=0)
+                        .to(device=dev, dtype=dt, non_blocking=True)
+                        .contiguous()
+                    )
+                W13 = experts_module._stacked_w13
+                W2 = experts_module._stacked_w2
+        except AttributeError as err:
+            LAST_ERROR = str(err)
+            if not getattr(experts_module, "_ax_grouped_logged_fail", False):
+                _LOGGER.warning(
+                    "torch_grouped: expert weights missing expected attributes; falling back to naive"
                 )
-                experts_module._stacked_w2 = (
-                    torch.stack(w2, dim=0)
-                    .to(device=dev, dtype=dt, non_blocking=True)
-                    .contiguous()
-                )
-            W13 = experts_module._stacked_w13
-            W2 = experts_module._stacked_w2
+                experts_module._ax_grouped_logged_fail = True
+            return None, None
 
         # Grouped GEMM for up+gate
         As: List[torch.Tensor] = []
@@ -237,8 +261,9 @@ def moe_ffn_forward_grouped(
         As2: List[torch.Tensor] = []
         Bs2: List[torch.Tensor] = []
         y_buf = torch.empty_like(x_rep)
+
         # split Y into (I, I)
-        for (i, sel), Yi in zip(expert_slices, Y_list):
+        for Yi in Y_list:
             I2 = Yi.shape[-1] // 2
             Yi_hidden = F.silu(Yi[:, :I2]) * Yi[:, I2:]
             As2.append(Yi_hidden)
@@ -254,7 +279,7 @@ def moe_ffn_forward_grouped(
             return None, None
 
         # Write back, apply per-token weighting, and reduce over top_k
-        for (i, sel), Out_i in zip(expert_slices, Y2_list):
+        for (_, sel), Out_i in zip(expert_slices, Y2_list, strict=False):
             y_buf[sel] = Out_i
         y = (y_buf.view(*topk_weight.shape, -1) * topk_weight.unsqueeze(-1)).sum(dim=1)
         if not getattr(experts_module, "_ax_grouped_logged_ok", False):
diff --git a/src/axolotl/monkeypatch/moe_grouped.py b/src/axolotl/monkeypatch/moe_grouped.py
index 36b975d04..01ac6e101 100644
--- a/src/axolotl/monkeypatch/moe_grouped.py
+++ b/src/axolotl/monkeypatch/moe_grouped.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import logging
-import warnings
+from functools import wraps
 
 import torch
 
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ _LOG = logging.getLogger("axolotl.moe.patch")
 
 def _patch_block_forward(block_cls, grouped_fn):
     """Replace block_cls.forward with grouped_fn preserving signature."""
-    setattr(block_cls, "forward", grouped_fn)
+    block_cls.forward = grouped_fn
 
 
 def apply_grouped_to_moe_blocks(cfg=None) -> None:
@@ -73,7 +73,8 @@ def apply_grouped_to_moe_blocks(cfg=None) -> None:
     }
 
     def make_grouped_forward(orig_forward):
-        def _grouped_forward(self, hidden_states: torch.Tensor):
+        @wraps(orig_forward)
+        def _grouped_forward(self, hidden_states: torch.Tensor, *args, **kwargs):
             bsz, seqlen, hdim = hidden_states.shape
             y, router_logits = _tg.moe_ffn_forward_grouped(
                 hidden_states, self.gate, self.experts, self.top_k
@@ -90,7 +91,7 @@ def apply_grouped_to_moe_blocks(cfg=None) -> None:
                     )
                 self._ax_grouped_wrapper_logged = True
             if y is None:
-                return orig_forward(self, hidden_states)
+                return orig_forward(self, hidden_states, *args, **kwargs)
             return y, router_logits
 
         return _grouped_forward
diff --git a/tests/monkeypatch/test_moe_grouped.py b/tests/monkeypatch/test_moe_grouped.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9b409e344
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/monkeypatch/test_moe_grouped.py
@@ -0,0 +1,228 @@
+import sys
+import types
+
+import torch
+import torch.nn as nn
+
+from axolotl.kernels.moe import (
+    backends as moe_backends,
+    torch_grouped as torch_grouped_module,
+)
+from axolotl.monkeypatch import moe_grouped
+
+
+class DummyExperts(nn.Module):
+    def __init__(self, layers):
+        super().__init__()
+        self.layers = nn.ModuleList(layers)
+        self.num_experts = len(layers)
+
+    def __getitem__(self, idx):
+        return self.layers[idx]
+
+
+class DummyQwenMLP(nn.Module):
+    def __init__(self, idx: int, hidden: int, intermediate: int):
+        super().__init__()
+        self.gate_up_proj = nn.Linear(hidden, 2 * intermediate, bias=False)
+        self.down_proj = nn.Linear(intermediate, hidden, bias=False)
+        nn.init.constant_(self.gate_up_proj.weight, float(idx + 1))
+        nn.init.constant_(self.down_proj.weight, float((idx + 1) * 10))
+
+
+class DummyQwenExpert(nn.Module):
+    def __init__(self, idx: int, hidden: int, intermediate: int):
+        super().__init__()
+        self.mlp = DummyQwenMLP(idx, hidden, intermediate)
+
+
+def _make_transformers_stub(monkeypatch, block_cls):
+    # ensure we start from the original forward for each test
+    if block_cls is DummyMixtralBlock:
+        DummyMixtralBlock.forward = _DUMMY_MIXTRAL_ORIG_FORWARD
+
+    transformers_mod = types.ModuleType("transformers")
+    models_mod = types.ModuleType("transformers.models")
+    mixtral_mod = types.ModuleType("transformers.models.mixtral")
+    modeling_mixtral = types.ModuleType("transformers.models.mixtral.modeling_mixtral")
+    modeling_mixtral.MixtralSparseMoeBlock = block_cls
+
+    transformers_mod.models = models_mod
+    models_mod.mixtral = mixtral_mod
+    mixtral_mod.modeling_mixtral = modeling_mixtral
+
+    monkeypatch.setitem(sys.modules, "transformers", transformers_mod)
+    monkeypatch.setitem(sys.modules, "transformers.models", models_mod)
+    monkeypatch.setitem(sys.modules, "transformers.models.mixtral", mixtral_mod)
+    monkeypatch.setitem(
+        sys.modules,
+        "transformers.models.mixtral.modeling_mixtral",
+        modeling_mixtral,
+    )
+
+
+def test_grouped_uses_per_expert_nested_modules(monkeypatch):
+    hidden = 4
+    intermediate = 2
+    num_experts = 2
+
+    experts = DummyExperts(
+        [DummyQwenExpert(i, hidden, intermediate) for i in range(num_experts)]
+    )
+
+    gate = nn.Linear(hidden, num_experts, bias=False)
+    nn.init.zeros_(gate.weight)
+
+    captured = []
+
+    def fake_grouped_mm(As, Bs):
+        captured.append([b.detach().clone() for b in Bs])
+        return [
+            torch.zeros(a.shape[0], b.shape[-1], device=a.device, dtype=a.dtype)
+            for a, b in zip(As, Bs, strict=False)
+        ]
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(torch_grouped_module, "_call_grouped_mm", fake_grouped_mm)
+
+    hidden_states = torch.randn(1, 2, hidden)
+    y, router_logits = torch_grouped_module.moe_ffn_forward_grouped(
+        hidden_states, gate, experts, top_k=2
+    )
+
+    assert y is not None
+    assert router_logits is not None
+    assert captured, "Grouped GEMM path should have been invoked"
+    first_call = captured[0]
+    expected0 = experts[0].mlp.gate_up_proj.weight.t()
+    expected1 = experts[1].mlp.gate_up_proj.weight.t()
+    assert torch.equal(first_call[0], expected0)
+    assert torch.equal(first_call[1], expected1)
+    assert not torch.equal(first_call[0], first_call[1])
+
+
+class _DummyCfg:
+    moe_backend = "torch_grouped"
+
+
+class DummyMixtralBlock(nn.Module):
+    def __init__(self):
+        super().__init__()
+        self.top_k = 1
+        self.gate = lambda x: x
+        self.experts = object()
+        self._calls = []
+
+    def forward(self, hidden_states: torch.Tensor, attention_mask=None):
+        self._calls.append((hidden_states, attention_mask))
+        tokens = hidden_states.shape[0] * hidden_states.shape[1]
+        router = torch.ones(
+            tokens, 2, device=hidden_states.device, dtype=hidden_states.dtype
+        )
+        return hidden_states + 5, router
+
+
+_DUMMY_MIXTRAL_ORIG_FORWARD = DummyMixtralBlock.forward
+
+
+def test_apply_grouped_forward_handles_args(monkeypatch):
+    _make_transformers_stub(monkeypatch, DummyMixtralBlock)
+    import axolotl.common.architectures as arch
+
+    original_map = arch.MOE_ARCH_BLOCK.copy()
+    monkeypatch.setitem(arch.MOE_ARCH_BLOCK, "mixtral", "MixtralSparseMoeBlock")
+    for key in list(original_map.keys()):
+        if key != "mixtral":
+            monkeypatch.setitem(arch.MOE_ARCH_BLOCK, key, None)
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        moe_grouped,
+        "get_moe_backend_name",
+        lambda preferred=None: moe_backends.MOEBackend.TORCH_GROUPED,
+    )
+
+    results = {}
+
+    def fake_grouped_forward(hidden_states, gate, experts, top_k):
+        results["called"] = True
+        router = torch.zeros(
+            hidden_states.shape[0] * hidden_states.shape[1],
+            2,
+            device=hidden_states.device,
+            dtype=hidden_states.dtype,
+        )
+        return hidden_states + 1, router
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(torch_grouped_module, "available", lambda: True)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        torch_grouped_module,
+        "moe_ffn_forward_grouped",
+        fake_grouped_forward,
+    )
+
+    cfg = _DummyCfg()
+    moe_grouped.apply_grouped_to_moe_blocks(cfg)
+
+    block = DummyMixtralBlock()
+    hidden_states = torch.ones(1, 2, 3)
+    mask = torch.zeros(1, 2)
+    out, router = block.forward(hidden_states, attention_mask=mask)
+
+    assert results.get("called") is True
+    assert torch.equal(out, hidden_states + 1)
+    assert router.shape[0] == hidden_states.shape[0] * hidden_states.shape[1]
+
+
+def test_apply_grouped_forward_fallback(monkeypatch):
+    _make_transformers_stub(monkeypatch, DummyMixtralBlock)
+    import axolotl.common.architectures as arch
+
+    original_map = arch.MOE_ARCH_BLOCK.copy()
+    monkeypatch.setitem(arch.MOE_ARCH_BLOCK, "mixtral", "MixtralSparseMoeBlock")
+    for key in list(original_map.keys()):
+        if key != "mixtral":
+            monkeypatch.setitem(arch.MOE_ARCH_BLOCK, key, None)
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        moe_grouped,
+        "get_moe_backend_name",
+        lambda preferred=None: moe_backends.MOEBackend.TORCH_GROUPED,
+    )
+    monkeypatch.setattr(torch_grouped_module, "available", lambda: True)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        torch_grouped_module,
+        "moe_ffn_forward_grouped",
+        lambda *args, **kwargs: (None, None),
+    )
+
+    cfg = _DummyCfg()
+    moe_grouped.apply_grouped_to_moe_blocks(cfg)
+
+    block = DummyMixtralBlock()
+    hidden_states = torch.ones(1, 2, 3)
+    mask = torch.zeros(1, 2)
+    out, router = block.forward(hidden_states, attention_mask=mask)
+
+    assert torch.equal(out, hidden_states + 5)
+    assert router.shape[0] == hidden_states.shape[0] * hidden_states.shape[1]
+    assert block._calls, "Original forward should have been invoked"
+    call_hidden, call_mask = block._calls[-1]
+    assert torch.equal(call_hidden, hidden_states)
+    assert torch.equal(call_mask, mask)
+
+
+def test_get_moe_backend_name_prefers_probe(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(moe_backends, "_probe_torch_grouped", lambda: True)
+    assert moe_backends.get_moe_backend_name() == moe_backends.MOEBackend.TORCH_GROUPED
+
+
+def test_get_moe_backend_name_falls_back(monkeypatch):
+    warnings_captured = []
+
+    def fake_warn(msg):
+        warnings_captured.append(msg)
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(moe_backends, "_probe_torch_grouped", lambda: False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(moe_backends.warnings, "warn", fake_warn)
+    backend = moe_backends.get_moe_backend_name("torch_grouped")
+    assert backend == moe_backends.MOEBackend.NAIVE
+    assert warnings_captured, "Expected warning when torch_grouped unavailable"