diff --git a/regtest/metatensor/rt-soap/soap_cv.py b/regtest/metatensor/rt-soap/soap_cv.py
index 2db5007f87..5ec28ae244 100644
--- a/regtest/metatensor/rt-soap/soap_cv.py
+++ b/regtest/metatensor/rt-soap/soap_cv.py
@@ -60,9 +60,11 @@ def forward(
         soap_block = soap.block()
         projected = soap_block.values @ self.pca_projection
 
+        samples = soap_block.samples.remove("center_type")
+
         block = TensorBlock(
             values=projected,
-            samples=soap_block.samples,
+            samples=samples,
             components=[],
             properties=Labels("soap_pca", torch.tensor([[0], [1], [2]], device=device)),
         )
@@ -99,7 +101,7 @@ def forward(
     description="""
 A simple collective variable for testing purposes
 """,
-    authors=["..."],
+    authors=["Some Author"],
     references={
         "implementation": ["ref to SOAP code"],
         "architecture": ["ref to SOAP"],
diff --git a/src/metatensor/metatensor.cpp b/src/metatensor/metatensor.cpp
index cc33db7160..bc149e603e 100644
--- a/src/metatensor/metatensor.cpp
+++ b/src/metatensor/metatensor.cpp
@@ -134,10 +134,11 @@ MetatensorPlumedAction::MetatensorPlumedAction(const ActionOptions& options):
     try {
         this->model_ = metatensor_torch::load_atomistic_model(model_path, extensions_directory);
     } catch (const std::exception& e) {
-        error("failed to load model at '" + model_path + "': " + e.what());
+        this->error("failed to load model at '" + model_path + "': " + e.what());
     }
 
     // extract information from the model
+    auto metadata = this->model_.run_method("metadata").toCustomClass<metatensor_torch::ModelMetadataHolder>();
     this->capabilities_ = this->model_.run_method("capabilities").toCustomClass<metatensor_torch::ModelCapabilitiesHolder>();
     auto requests_ivalue = this->model_.run_method("requested_neighbors_lists");
     for (auto request_ivalue: requests_ivalue.toList()) {
@@ -145,6 +146,14 @@ MetatensorPlumedAction::MetatensorPlumedAction(const ActionOptions& options):
         this->nl_requests_.push_back(request);
     }
 
+    log.printf("\n%s\n", metadata->print().c_str());
+    // add the model references to PLUMED citation handling mechanism
+    for (const auto& it: metadata->references) {
+        for (const auto& ref: it.value()) {
+            this->cite(ref);
+        }
+    }
+
     // parse the atomic types from the input file
     std::vector<int32_t> atomic_types;
     std::vector<int32_t> species_to_types;
@@ -168,7 +177,7 @@ MetatensorPlumedAction::MetatensorPlumedAction(const ActionOptions& options):
             int32_t type = i;
             if (has_custom_types) {
                 if (species_to_types.size() < static_cast<size_t>(i)) {
-                    error(
+                    this->error(
                         "SPECIES_TO_TYPES is too small, it should have one entry "
                         "for each species (we have at least " + std::to_string(i) +
                         " species and " + std::to_string(species_to_types.size()) +