diff --git a/examples/mlperf/model_train.py b/examples/mlperf/model_train.py
index 5817b484aa..ef4c2fd0e9 100644
--- a/examples/mlperf/model_train.py
+++ b/examples/mlperf/model_train.py
@@ -538,6 +538,8 @@ def train_retinanet():
         print(f"Estimated training time: {estimated_total_minutes // 60}h{estimated_total_minutes % 60}m")
         print(f"epoch global_ops: {steps_in_train_epoch * GlobalCounters.global_ops:_}, "
               f"epoch global_mem: {steps_in_train_epoch * GlobalCounters.global_mem:_}")
+        # if we are doing beam search, run the first eval too
+        if (TRAIN_BEAM or EVAL_BEAM) and e == start_epoch: break
         return
       
     # ** eval loop **