diff --git a/conda-envs/environment-alternative-backends.yml b/conda-envs/environment-alternative-backends.yml
index 5030e7bacf..fcf78c6991 100644
--- a/conda-envs/environment-alternative-backends.yml
+++ b/conda-envs/environment-alternative-backends.yml
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ dependencies:
 - cloudpickle
 - zarr>=2.5.0,<3
 - numba
-- nutpie >= 0.13.4
+- nutpie >= 0.15.1
 # Jaxlib version must not be greater than jax version!
 - blackjax>=1.2.2
 - jax>=0.4.28
diff --git a/pymc/sampling/mcmc.py b/pymc/sampling/mcmc.py
index 76695d7603..d3a02b91b6 100644
--- a/pymc/sampling/mcmc.py
+++ b/pymc/sampling/mcmc.py
@@ -331,11 +331,7 @@ def _sample_external_nuts(
                 "`idata_kwargs` are currently ignored by the nutpie sampler",
                 UserWarning,
             )
-        if var_names is not None:
-            warnings.warn(
-                "`var_names` are currently ignored by the nutpie sampler",
-                UserWarning,
-            )
+
         compile_kwargs = {}
         nuts_sampler_kwargs = nuts_sampler_kwargs.copy()
         for kwarg in ("backend", "gradient_backend"):
@@ -343,6 +339,7 @@ def _sample_external_nuts(
                 compile_kwargs[kwarg] = nuts_sampler_kwargs.pop(kwarg)
         compiled_model = nutpie.compile_pymc_model(
             model,
+            var_names=var_names,
             **compile_kwargs,
         )
         t_start = time.time()
diff --git a/tests/sampling/test_mcmc_external.py b/tests/sampling/test_mcmc_external.py
index 2d32277061..ed3fc09dd0 100644
--- a/tests/sampling/test_mcmc_external.py
+++ b/tests/sampling/test_mcmc_external.py
@@ -15,8 +15,9 @@
 import numpy as np
 import numpy.testing as npt
 import pytest
+import xarray as xr
 
-from pymc import Data, Model, Normal, sample
+from pymc import Data, Deterministic, HalfNormal, Model, Normal, sample
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("nuts_sampler", ["pymc", "nutpie", "blackjax", "numpyro"])
@@ -86,3 +87,55 @@ def test_step_args():
         )
 
     npt.assert_almost_equal(idata.sample_stats.acceptance_rate.mean(), 0.5, decimal=1)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("nuts_sampler", ["pymc", "nutpie", "blackjax", "numpyro"])
+def test_sample_var_names(nuts_sampler):
+    seed = 1234
+    kwargs = {
+        "chains": 1,
+        "tune": 100,
+        "draws": 100,
+        "random_seed": seed,
+        "progressbar": False,
+        "compute_convergence_checks": False,
+    }
+
+    # Generate data
+    rng = np.random.default_rng(seed)
+
+    group = rng.choice(list("ABCD"), size=100)
+    x = rng.normal(size=100)
+    y = rng.normal(size=100)
+
+    group_values, group_idx = np.unique(group, return_inverse=True)
+
+    coords = {"group": group_values}
+
+    # Create model
+    with Model(coords=coords) as model:
+        b_group = Normal("b_group", dims="group")
+        b_x = Normal("b_x")
+        mu = Deterministic("mu", b_group[group_idx] + b_x * x)
+        sigma = HalfNormal("sigma")
+        Normal("y", mu=mu, sigma=sigma, observed=y)
+
+    free_RVs = [var.name for var in model.free_RVs]
+
+    with model:
+        # Sample with and without var_names, but always with the same seed
+        idata_1 = sample(nuts_sampler=nuts_sampler, **kwargs)
+        # Remove the last free RV from the sampling
+        idata_2 = sample(nuts_sampler=nuts_sampler, var_names=free_RVs[:-1], **kwargs)
+
+    assert "mu" in idata_1.posterior
+    assert "mu" not in idata_2.posterior
+
+    assert free_RVs[-1] in idata_1.posterior
+    assert free_RVs[-1] not in idata_2.posterior
+
+    for var in free_RVs[:-1]:
+        assert var in idata_1.posterior
+        assert var in idata_2.posterior
+
+        xr.testing.assert_allclose(idata_1.posterior[var], idata_2.posterior[var])