diff --git a/examples/mlperf/training_submission_v5.0/tinycorp/benchmarks/bert/implementations/tinybox_green/dev_beam.sh b/examples/mlperf/training_submission_v5.0/tinycorp/benchmarks/bert/implementations/tinybox_green/dev_beam.sh
index f2f1cb8e45..9c7a6e6d35 100755
--- a/examples/mlperf/training_submission_v5.0/tinycorp/benchmarks/bert/implementations/tinybox_green/dev_beam.sh
+++ b/examples/mlperf/training_submission_v5.0/tinycorp/benchmarks/bert/implementations/tinybox_green/dev_beam.sh
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ export DEFAULT_FLOAT="HALF" SUM_DTYPE="HALF" GPUS=6 BS=96 EVAL_BS=96
 
 export BEAM=4 BEAM_UOPS_MAX=3000 BEAM_UPCAST_MAX=256 BEAM_LOCAL_MAX=1024 BEAM_MIN_PROGRESS=5
 export IGNORE_JIT_FIRST_BEAM=1
+export BEAM_LOG_SURPASS_MAX=1
 export BASEDIR="/raid/datasets/wiki"
 
 export RESET_STEP=1
diff --git a/examples/mlperf/training_submission_v5.0/tinycorp/benchmarks/bert/implementations/tinybox_green/run_and_time.sh b/examples/mlperf/training_submission_v5.0/tinycorp/benchmarks/bert/implementations/tinybox_green/run_and_time.sh
index d9aa9eddfe..3ae062533b 100755
--- a/examples/mlperf/training_submission_v5.0/tinycorp/benchmarks/bert/implementations/tinybox_green/run_and_time.sh
+++ b/examples/mlperf/training_submission_v5.0/tinycorp/benchmarks/bert/implementations/tinybox_green/run_and_time.sh
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ DATETIME=$(date "+%m%d%H%M")
 LOGFILE="bert_green_${DATETIME}_${SEED}.log"
 
 # init
-BENCHMARK=10 INITMLPERF=1 RESET_STEP=1 python3 examples/mlperf/model_train.py | tee $LOGFILE
+BENCHMARK=10 INITMLPERF=1 RESET_STEP=1 BEAM_LOG_SURPASS_MAX=1 python3 examples/mlperf/model_train.py | tee $LOGFILE
 
 # run
 PARALLEL=0 RUNMLPERF=1 python3 examples/mlperf/model_train.py | tee -a $LOGFILE
diff --git a/examples/mlperf/training_submission_v5.0/tinycorp/benchmarks/bert/implementations/tinybox_red/dev_beam.sh b/examples/mlperf/training_submission_v5.0/tinycorp/benchmarks/bert/implementations/tinybox_red/dev_beam.sh
index bd32390b17..19c4ef8387 100755
--- a/examples/mlperf/training_submission_v5.0/tinycorp/benchmarks/bert/implementations/tinybox_red/dev_beam.sh
+++ b/examples/mlperf/training_submission_v5.0/tinycorp/benchmarks/bert/implementations/tinybox_red/dev_beam.sh
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ export DEFAULT_FLOAT="HALF" SUM_DTYPE="HALF" GPUS=6 BS=96 EVAL_BS=96
 
 export BEAM=3 BEAM_UOPS_MAX=3000 BEAM_UPCAST_MAX=256 BEAM_LOCAL_MAX=1024 BEAM_MIN_PROGRESS=5
 export IGNORE_JIT_FIRST_BEAM=1
+export BEAM_LOG_SURPASS_MAX=1
 export BASEDIR="/raid/datasets/wiki"
 
 export RESET_STEP=1
diff --git a/examples/mlperf/training_submission_v5.0/tinycorp/benchmarks/bert/implementations/tinybox_red/run_and_time.sh b/examples/mlperf/training_submission_v5.0/tinycorp/benchmarks/bert/implementations/tinybox_red/run_and_time.sh
index caa380fc19..74fc961e05 100755
--- a/examples/mlperf/training_submission_v5.0/tinycorp/benchmarks/bert/implementations/tinybox_red/run_and_time.sh
+++ b/examples/mlperf/training_submission_v5.0/tinycorp/benchmarks/bert/implementations/tinybox_red/run_and_time.sh
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ DATETIME=$(date "+%m%d%H%M")
 LOGFILE="bert_red_${DATETIME}_${SEED}.log"
 
 # init
-BENCHMARK=10 INITMLPERF=1 RESET_STEP=1 python3 examples/mlperf/model_train.py | tee $LOGFILE
+BENCHMARK=10 INITMLPERF=1 RESET_STEP=1 BEAM_LOG_SURPASS_MAX=1 python3 examples/mlperf/model_train.py | tee $LOGFILE
 
 # run
 PARALLEL=0 RUNMLPERF=1 python3 examples/mlperf/model_train.py | tee -a $LOGFILE
diff --git a/tinygrad/engine/search.py b/tinygrad/engine/search.py
index 3cddc8d214..368f9963d9 100644
--- a/tinygrad/engine/search.py
+++ b/tinygrad/engine/search.py
@@ -65,7 +65,9 @@ def _try_compile_linearized_w_idx(x:tuple[int,Kernel], compiler:Compiler) -> tup
   try:
     p = x[1].to_program(name_override="test")
     assert p.uops is not None, "uop list wasn't generated?"
-    if len(p.uops) >= getenv("BEAM_UOPS_MAX", 3000) > 0: raise RuntimeError("too many uops")
+    if len(p.uops) >= (uops_max:=getenv("BEAM_UOPS_MAX", 3000)) > 0:
+      if getenv("BEAM_LOG_SURPASS_MAX"): print(f"too many uops. {len(p.uops)=}, {uops_max=}")
+      raise RuntimeError("too many uops")
     st = time.perf_counter()
     prog = compiler.compile(p.src)
     et = time.perf_counter() - st
@@ -121,7 +123,9 @@ def get_kernel_actions(lin:Kernel, include_0=True) -> dict[int, Kernel]:
       for s,c in zip(lin2.full_shape, lin2.colors()):
         if c in {"magenta", "yellow"}: up *= s
         elif c in {"cyan", "green", "white"}: lcl *= s
-      if up//tc_up > max_up or lcl > max_lcl: continue
+      if up//tc_up > max_up or lcl > max_lcl:
+        if getenv("BEAM_LOG_SURPASS_MAX"): print(f"too many upcast/local. {up//tc_up=}, {max_up=}, {lcl=}, {max_lcl=}")
+        continue
       acted_lins[i+1] = lin2
     except KernelOptError: pass
   return acted_lins