diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 8c74e46f9..34a561a94 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -114,4 +114,51 @@ def find_version(*file_paths):
     install_requires=requirements,
     ext_modules=ext_modules,
     extras_require=extra_requirements
-)
+)# -------------------------------------------------------------
+# center_net_custom_patch.py
+# Add support for custom classes in GluonCV CenterNet
+# -------------------------------------------------------------
+
+import mxnet as mx
+from gluoncv.model_zoo.center_net import get_center_net
+from gluoncv.model_zoo.model_store import get_model_file
+from gluoncv.model_zoo import model_zoo
+
+
+def center_net_resnet18_v1b_custom(pretrained=False, classes=None, ctx=mx.cpu(),
+                                   root='~/.mxnet/models', **kwargs):
+    """
+    Custom CenterNet model that allows user-defined classes.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    pretrained : bool
+        Load pretrained COCO weights if True.
+    classes : list of str
+        Custom class names.
+    ctx : mx.context.Context
+        Device context (CPU/GPU).
+    root : str
+        Model storage root directory.
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    net : gluon.HybridBlock
+        CenterNet model initialized for custom classes.
+    """
+    # Initialize model with backbone
+    net = get_center_net('resnet18_v1b', pretrained_base=True, classes=classes, **kwargs)
+
+    if pretrained:
+        # Load pretrained COCO weights
+        net.load_parameters(get_model_file('center_net_resnet18_v1b_coco', root=root), ctx=ctx)
+        # Reset for custom classes if provided
+        if classes is not None:
+            net.reset_class(classes)
+
+    return net
+
+
+# Optional: register the model with model_zoo so get_model() can find it
+model_zoo._models['center_net_resnet18_v1b_custom'] = center_net_resnet18_v1b_custom
+