diff --git a/examples/mlperf/model_train.py b/examples/mlperf/model_train.py
index 1e2d7bbb17..8f3e3d07c3 100644
--- a/examples/mlperf/model_train.py
+++ b/examples/mlperf/model_train.py
@@ -595,7 +595,7 @@ def train_retinanet():
 
       if val_metric >= target_metric:
         print(colored(f"target metric reached: {val_metric:.2f}/{target_metric:.2f}"))
-        safe_save(get_state_dict(model), fn)
+        if getenv("CKPT", 1): safe_save(get_state_dict(model), fn)
         break
 
 def train_unet3d():