diff --git a/src/gnn_reco/components/utils.py b/src/gnn_reco/components/utils.py
index 0be8ad8f6..45caaf974 100644
--- a/src/gnn_reco/components/utils.py
+++ b/src/gnn_reco/components/utils.py
@@ -261,18 +261,18 @@ def _predict(self):
         return out
      
 
-def make_train_validation_dataloader(db, selection, pulsemap, batch_size, FEATURES, TRUTH, num_workers):
+def make_train_validation_dataloader(db, selection, pulsemap, batch_size, FEATURES, TRUTH, num_workers, persistent_workers = True):
     training_selection, validation_selection = train_test_split(selection, test_size=0.33, random_state=42)
 
     training_dataset = SQLiteDataset(db, pulsemap, FEATURES, TRUTH, selection= training_selection)
     training_dataset.close_connection()
     training_dataloader = torch.utils.data.DataLoader(training_dataset, batch_size=batch_size, shuffle=True, num_workers=num_workers, 
-                                            collate_fn=Batch.from_data_list,persistent_workers=True,prefetch_factor=2)
+                                            collate_fn=Batch.from_data_list,persistent_workers=persistent_workers,prefetch_factor=2)
 
     validation_dataset = SQLiteDataset(db, pulsemap, FEATURES, TRUTH, selection= validation_selection)
     validation_dataset.close_connection()
     validation_dataloader = torch.utils.data.DataLoader(validation_dataset, batch_size=batch_size, shuffle=True, num_workers=num_workers, 
-                                            collate_fn=Batch.from_data_list,persistent_workers=True,prefetch_factor=2)
+                                            collate_fn=Batch.from_data_list,persistent_workers=persistent_workers,prefetch_factor=2)
     return training_dataloader, validation_dataloader
 
 def save_results(db, tag, results, archive,model):