diff --git a/examples/mlperf/model_train.py b/examples/mlperf/model_train.py
index b3c2b93d99..d0b64895e0 100644
--- a/examples/mlperf/model_train.py
+++ b/examples/mlperf/model_train.py
@@ -268,10 +268,11 @@ def train_resnet():
       BEAM.value = EVAL_BEAM
 
       if INITMLPERF:
+        i, proc = 0, fake_data_get(EVAL_BS)
+      else:
         it = iter(tqdm(batch_load_resnet(batch_size=EVAL_BS, val=True, shuffle=False, pad_first_batch=True), total=steps_in_val_epoch))
         i, proc = 0, data_get(it)
-      else:
-        i, proc = 0, fake_data_get(EVAL_BS)
+        
       prev_cookies = []
       while proc is not None:
         GlobalCounters.reset()