diff --git a/minari/storage/local.py b/minari/storage/local.py
index dd5bfdec..efa16447 100644
--- a/minari/storage/local.py
+++ b/minari/storage/local.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 from packaging.specifiers import SpecifierSet
 
 from minari.dataset.minari_dataset import MinariDataset, parse_dataset_id
+from minari.storage import hosting
 from minari.storage.datasets_root_dir import get_dataset_path
 
 
@@ -14,17 +15,27 @@
 __version__ = importlib.metadata.version("minari")
 
 
-def load_dataset(dataset_id: str):
+def load_dataset(dataset_id: str, download: bool = False):
     """Retrieve Minari dataset from local database.
 
     Args:
         dataset_id (str): name id of Minari dataset
+        download (bool): if `True` download the dataset if it is not found locally. Default to `False`.
 
     Returns:
         MinariDataset
     """
     file_path = get_dataset_path(dataset_id)
     data_path = os.path.join(file_path, "data", "main_data.hdf5")
+
+    if not os.path.exists(data_path):
+        if not download:
+            raise FileNotFoundError(
+                f"Dataset {dataset_id} not found locally at {file_path}. Use download=True to download the dataset."
+            )
+
+        hosting.download_dataset(dataset_id)
+
     return MinariDataset(data_path)
 
 
diff --git a/tests/dataset/test_dataset_download.py b/tests/dataset/test_dataset_download.py
index d203c199..fe969bed 100644
--- a/tests/dataset/test_dataset_download.py
+++ b/tests/dataset/test_dataset_download.py
@@ -61,3 +61,21 @@ def test_download_dataset_from_farama_server(dataset_id: str):
     minari.delete_dataset(dataset_id)
     local_datasets = minari.list_local_datasets()
     assert dataset_id not in local_datasets
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "dataset_id",
+    [
+        get_latest_compatible_dataset_id(env_name=env_name, dataset_name="human")
+        for env_name in env_names
+    ],
+)
+def test_load_dataset_with_download(dataset_id: str):
+    """Test load dataset with and without download."""
+    with pytest.raises(FileNotFoundError):
+        dataset = minari.load_dataset(dataset_id)
+
+    dataset = minari.load_dataset(dataset_id, download=True)
+    assert isinstance(dataset, MinariDataset)
+
+    minari.delete_dataset(dataset_id)