A method for CVT low oil pressure input clutch fill compensation includesperforming a garage shift when a modeled fill pressure is equal to a commanded modeled fill pressure. Then the line pressure is checked to determine if it is less than the commanded fill pressure when performing the garage shift. If so, then the modeled fill pressure is set to the line pressure and the primary and secondary actual pulley pressures are read by sensing devices. Next, the primary and secondary commanded pulley pressures are checked to determine if they are greater than the modeled fill pressure. If so, then a first dPressure value for the flow rate model based on the lowest of the modeled fill pressure, the primary actual pulley pressure, or the secondary actual pulley pressure is determined and it is used to compensate the flow rate model.