diff --git a/tinygrad/ast.py b/tinygrad/ast.py
index 6658a4a3ea..7e026fd8d8 100644
--- a/tinygrad/ast.py
+++ b/tinygrad/ast.py
@@ -59,12 +59,9 @@ class ASTKernel:
     self.ret = output_buffer if output_buffer else type(self.bufs[0])(output_shape if output_shape else self.info.shape, force_create=True)
     self.bufs = ([type(self.ret)(self.info.shape, hostbuf=self.ret)] if output_shape else [self.ret]) + self.bufs
 
-    # TODO: should be optional if it's hitting a function cache
-    self.processed = False
-
   def process(self) -> None:
-    if self.processed: return
-    self.processed = True
+    if hasattr(self, "sts"): return   # already processed
+
     reduceops = [x for x in get_lazyops(self.ast) if x.op in ReduceOps]
     assert len(dedup(reduceops)) <= 1, "max one reduce op in an ast"
     self.reduceop = reduceops[0] if reduceops else None