Several recent studies of ELMO Bumpy Torus (EBT) stability show that conflicting results can emerge when different distribution functions for the hot‐electron component are used. In this paper the role of the distribution function is established by examining the stability of various modes with the aid of two models. In the ‘‘slab’’ model where the magnetic field curvature is simulated by a gravitational force it is shown that the stability of the compressional Alfve´n wave is insensitive to the distribution function while the interacting interchange mode is sensitive. In the ‘‘local’’ approximation in which the curvature effects enter in a natural way it is seen that the interchange modes are insensitive so long as the anisotropy of the hot electrons is large, while other modes reflect dependence on the distribution function. Finally it is demonstrated that in the ‘‘deep well’ case the results for both modes are independent of the model and of the distribution function.