diff --git a/torch_em/util/debug.py b/torch_em/util/debug.py
index b3fe1f81..ca7bfa90 100644
--- a/torch_em/util/debug.py
+++ b/torch_em/util/debug.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 from .util import ensure_array
 
 
-def _check_plt(loader, n_samples, instance_labels, model=None, device=None):
+def _check_plt(loader, n_samples, instance_labels, model=None, device=None, save_path=None):
     import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
     img_size = 5
 
@@ -65,7 +65,11 @@ def to_index(ns, rid, sid):
                 ax = fig.add_subplot(n_rows, n_samples, to_index(n_samples, 1 + n_target_channels + chan, ii))
                 ax.imshow(pred[chan], interpolation="nearest", cmap="Greys_r", aspect="auto")
 
-    plt.show()
+    if save_path is None:
+        plt.show()
+    else:
+        plt.savefig(save_path)
+        plt.close()
 
 
 def _check_napari(loader, n_samples, instance_labels, model=None, device=None, rgb=False):
@@ -118,8 +122,8 @@ def check_trainer(trainer, n_samples, instance_labels=False, split="val", loader
             _check_napari(loader, n_samples, instance_labels, model=model, device=trainer.device)
 
 
-def check_loader(loader, n_samples, instance_labels=False, plt=False, rgb=False):
+def check_loader(loader, n_samples, instance_labels=False, plt=False, rgb=False, save_path=None):
     if plt:
-        _check_plt(loader, n_samples, instance_labels)
+        _check_plt(loader, n_samples, instance_labels, save_path=save_path)
     else:
         _check_napari(loader, n_samples, instance_labels, rgb=rgb)