diff --git a/test/test_softmax_fusion.py b/test/test_softmax_fusion.py
index f4b848e41a..e9a4594bfb 100644
--- a/test/test_softmax_fusion.py
+++ b/test/test_softmax_fusion.py
@@ -118,7 +118,6 @@ class TestFuse(unittest.TestCase):
     self.assertListEqual(c.tolist(), [30]*16)
 
   @unittest.skipUnless(Device.DEFAULT == "METAL", "METAL TC")
-  @unittest.expectedFailure # TODO: fix
   def test_fuse_and_tc_opt(self):
     A = Tensor.randn(8, 8).realize()
     B = Tensor.randn(8, 8).realize()
diff --git a/tinygrad/codegen/opt/kernel.py b/tinygrad/codegen/opt/kernel.py
index 83395a591d..3df7100e78 100644
--- a/tinygrad/codegen/opt/kernel.py
+++ b/tinygrad/codegen/opt/kernel.py
@@ -378,9 +378,9 @@ class Kernel:
       tensor_cores = self.opts.tensor_cores if tc_select == -1 else [self.opts.tensor_cores[tc_select]]
       for tc in tensor_cores:
         tensor_core_opts = [self._create_tc_opts(reduceop, tc, axis, opt_level) for reduceop in self.reduceops]
+        if tensor_core_opts[0] is None: continue
         # can only fuse reduces with the same tc options
         assert all_same(tensor_core_opts)
-        if tensor_core_opts[0] is None: continue
         self.tensor_core_opts = tc_opts = tensor_core_opts[0]
 
         # attempt to pad the tensor axes that require it