diff --git a/lnbits/settings.py b/lnbits/settings.py
index eca50a981..0bd18b746 100644
--- a/lnbits/settings.py
+++ b/lnbits/settings.py
@@ -605,6 +605,7 @@ class SparkFundingSource(LNbitsSettings):
 class SparkL2FundingSource(LNbitsSettings):
     spark_l2_mnemonic: str | None = Field(default=None)
     spark_l2_network: str = Field(default="MAINNET")
+    spark_l2_internal_sidecar_version: str | None = Field(default="0.1.1")
     spark_l2_external_endpoint: str | None = Field(default=None)
     spark_l2_external_api_key: str | None = Field(default=None)
     spark_l2_pay_wait_ms: int = Field(default=4000, ge=0)
diff --git a/lnbits/static/js/components/admin/lnbits-admin-funding-sources.js b/lnbits/static/js/components/admin/lnbits-admin-funding-sources.js
index 9e038a256..3ff4fa7bd 100644
--- a/lnbits/static/js/components/admin/lnbits-admin-funding-sources.js
+++ b/lnbits/static/js/components/admin/lnbits-admin-funding-sources.js
@@ -232,22 +232,29 @@ window.app.component('lnbits-admin-funding-sources', {
           'LightsparkSparkWallet',
           'Spark (L2)',
           {
+            spark_l2_internal_sidecar_version: {
+              label: 'Internal Sidecar Version (eg: 0.1.1).',
+              hint: 'If specified then the sidecar will be downloaded. Alternatively you can specify an External Sidecar endpoint in the Advanced section.',
+              value: ''
+            },
             spark_l2_mnemonic: {
-              label: 'Mnemonic'
+              label: 'Mnemonic',
+              hint: 'Only required if Interna Sidecar version is specified.'
             },
             spark_l2_network: {
               label: 'Network',
               value: 'MAINNET'
             },
+
             spark_l2_external_endpoint: {
-              label:
-                'Sidecar Endpoint (only if you do not want to use the default sidecar at http://127.0.0.1:8765)',
+              label: 'External Sidecar Endpoint. ',
+              hint: 'If specified then this endpoint will be used instead of the internal sidecar. Make sure to also specify the API key if your sidecar requires authentication.',
               value: '',
               advanced: true
             },
             spark_l2_external_api_key: {
-              label:
-                'Sidecar API Key (only if you do not want to use the default sidecar at http://127.0.0.1:8765)',
+              label: 'External Sidecar API Key. ',
+              hint: 'API Key for authenticating with the external sidecar if it requires authentication.',
               value: '',
               advanced: true
             },
diff --git a/lnbits/wallets/lightspark.py b/lnbits/wallets/lightspark.py
index 00dca8c77..b31a0a9ab 100644
--- a/lnbits/wallets/lightspark.py
+++ b/lnbits/wallets/lightspark.py
@@ -47,24 +47,26 @@ class LightsparkSparkWallet(Wallet):
 
         self.pending_invoices: list[str] = []
 
-        if settings.spark_l2_external_endpoint:
+        self.endpoint = "http://127.0.0.1:8765"
+        self._api_key = uuid.uuid4().hex
+        if settings.spark_l2_internal_sidecar_version:
+            self._sidecar_version = settings.spark_l2_internal_sidecar_version
+            self.sidecar_task = asyncio.create_task(self._start_sidecar())
+            logger.info(f"Internal Spark sidecar ({self._sidecar_version}).")
+        elif settings.spark_l2_external_endpoint:
             self.endpoint = normalize_endpoint(
                 cast(str, settings.spark_l2_external_endpoint)
             )
+            self._api_key = settings.spark_l2_external_api_key
             logger.info(f"Using external Spark sidecar endpoint: {self.endpoint}")
         else:
-            self.endpoint = "http://127.0.0.1:8765"
-            logger.info(f"Using internal Spark sidecar endpoint: {self.endpoint}")
-
-        if settings.spark_l2_external_api_key:
-            self._api_key = settings.spark_l2_external_api_key
-        else:
-            self._api_key = uuid.uuid4().hex
+            logger.error(
+                "No Spark sidecar configuration found. Please set either "
+                "spark_l2_internal_sidecar_version or spark_l2_external_endpoint."
+            )
 
         headers = {"User-Agent": settings.user_agent, "X-Api-Key": self._api_key}
 
-        self.sidecar_task = asyncio.create_task(self._start_sidecar())
-
         self.client = httpx.AsyncClient(
             base_url=self.endpoint,
             headers=headers,
@@ -324,15 +326,15 @@ class LightsparkSparkWallet(Wallet):
             return
         logger.info(f"Node.js found: {node_path}")
 
-        repo, branch = "spark_sidecar", "main"
-        node_modules_path = Path(self._sidecar_path, f"{repo}-{branch}")
-        await self._prepare_sidecar(repo, branch, node_modules_path)
+        repo, version = "spark_sidecar", self._sidecar_version
+        node_modules_path = Path(self._sidecar_path, f"{repo}-{version}")
+        await self._prepare_sidecar(repo, version, node_modules_path)
 
         await self._start_sidecar_process(node_path, node_modules_path)
 
-    async def _prepare_sidecar(self, repo: str, branch: str, node_modules_path: Path):
+    async def _prepare_sidecar(self, repo: str, version: str, node_modules_path: Path):
         if not Path(node_modules_path, "package.json").is_file():
-            await self._download_sidecar(repo, branch)
+            await self._download_sidecar(repo, version)
         else:
             logger.info("Spark sidecar already downloaded.")
 
@@ -385,13 +387,14 @@ class LightsparkSparkWallet(Wallet):
         logger.info("Started Spark sidecar node process.")
         await asyncio.to_thread(self._log_process_output, process)
 
-    async def _download_sidecar(self, repo: str, branch: str):
-        logger.info("⏳ Downloading Spark sidecar.")
+    async def _download_sidecar(self, repo: str, version: str):
         zip_path = Path(self._sidecar_path, f"{repo}.zip")
+        logger.info(f"⏳ Downloading Spark sidecar to {zip_path}")
+        Path(zip_path).parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
 
         await asyncio.to_thread(
             download_url,
-            f"https://github.com/lnbits/{repo}/archive/refs/heads/{branch}.zip",
+            f"https://github.com/lnbits/{repo}/archive/refs/tags/v{version}.zip",
             zip_path,
         )
         logger.info("✅ Downloaded Spark sidecar.")