diff --git a/tinygrad/engine/schedule.py b/tinygrad/engine/schedule.py
index 469c7d771c..8da404faed 100644
--- a/tinygrad/engine/schedule.py
+++ b/tinygrad/engine/schedule.py
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ def _is_padding_okay(buf:LazyBuffer, realizes:Dict[LazyBuffer, None]) -> bool:
   return all(_is_padding_okay(x.base, realizes) for x in buf.srcs)
 
 def _recursive_group(tr:LazyBuffer, st:ShapeTracker, r:LazyBuffer, children:DefaultDict[LazyBuffer, Dict[LazyBuffer, None]],
-                     realizes:Dict[LazyBuffer, None], reduce_for_op:Dict[LazyBuffer, LazyBuffer], group:Set[LazyBuffer]):
+                     realizes:Dict[LazyBuffer, None], reduce_for_op:Dict[LazyBuffer, LazyBuffer], group:Set[LazyBuffer], seen:List[LazyBuffer]=[]):
   """recursively search the LazyBuffer for groupable children, realize the LazyBuffer if a child can't group"""
   if tr in realizes:
     # can only fuse contiguous
@@ -179,7 +179,9 @@ def _recursive_group(tr:LazyBuffer, st:ShapeTracker, r:LazyBuffer, children:Defa
       if tr_next.op in ReduceOps: return group.add(r)
       # can only fuse contiguous
       if len(st_childs:=dedup(s for s in tr_next.srcs if s.base == tr)) > 1: return group.add(r)
-      _recursive_group(tr_next, st+st_childs[0].st, r, children, realizes, reduce_for_op, group)
+      if tr not in seen:
+        seen = [tr] + seen
+        _recursive_group(tr_next, st+st_childs[0].st, r, children, realizes, reduce_for_op, group, seen=seen)
 
 def _graph_schedule(outs:List[LazyBuffer], seen:Set[LazyBuffer]) -> Tuple[DefaultDict[LazyBuffer, List[LazyBuffer]], DefaultDict[LazyBuffer, int],
                                                                     Dict[LazyBuffer, _LBScheduleItem]]: