diff --git a/prompting/base/validator.py b/prompting/base/validator.py
index 893bf2055..3ce252ee1 100644
--- a/prompting/base/validator.py
+++ b/prompting/base/validator.py
@@ -142,9 +142,6 @@ def run(self):
                     self.loop.run_until_complete(
                         asyncio.wait_for(task, timeout=forward_timeout)
                     )
-                except torch.cuda.OutOfMemoryError as e:
-                    bt.logging.error(f"Out of memory error: {e}")
-                    continue
                 except MaxRetryError as e:
                     bt.logging.error(f"MaxRetryError: {e}")
                     continue
diff --git a/prompting/forward.py b/prompting/forward.py
index 170f85254..a92cb80bd 100644
--- a/prompting/forward.py
+++ b/prompting/forward.py
@@ -16,30 +16,28 @@
 # DEALINGS IN
 #  THE SOFTWARE.
 
+import asyncio
+import random
 import sys
 import time
-import random
-import asyncio
 import traceback
-import numpy as np
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+from typing import Awaitable, Dict, List
+
 import bittensor as bt
-from typing import List, Dict, Awaitable
+import numpy as np
+import torch
+
 from prompting.agent import HumanAgent
-from prompting.dendrite import DendriteResponseEvent
 from prompting.conversation import create_task
+from prompting.dendrite import DendriteResponseEvent
 from prompting.protocol import StreamPromptingSynapse
 from prompting.rewards import RewardResult
 from prompting.tasks import QuestionAnsweringTask
-from prompting.utils.uids import get_random_uids
 from prompting.utils.logging import log_event
 from prompting.utils.misc import async_log, serialize_exception_to_string
-from dataclasses import dataclass
+from prompting.utils.uids import get_random_uids
 
-@async_log
-async def generate_reference(agent):
-    loop = asyncio.get_running_loop()
-    result = await loop.run_in_executor(None, agent.task.generate_reference, agent.llm_pipeline)
-    return result
 
 @async_log
 async def execute_dendrite_call(dendrite_call):
@@ -167,7 +165,6 @@ def log_stream_results(stream_results: List[StreamResult]):
             f"Failed response for uid {failed_response.uid}: {formatted_exception}"
         )
 
-
 async def run_step(
     self, agent: HumanAgent, roles: List[str], messages: List[str], k: int, timeout: float, exclude: list = None
 ):
@@ -274,6 +271,8 @@ async def forward(self):
     """
     Encapsulates a full conversation between the validator and miners. Contains one or more rounds of request-response.
 
+    Raises:
+        torch.cuda.OutOfMemoryError: CUDA out of memory error.
     """
     bt.logging.info("🚀 Starting forward loop...")
     forward_start_time = time.time()
@@ -354,6 +353,10 @@ async def forward(self):
             messages.append(agent.challenge)
             turn += 1
 
+        except torch.cuda.OutOfMemoryError as err:
+            bt.logging.error("CUDA out of memory", str(err))
+            raise err
+
         except BaseException as e:
             unexpected_errors = serialize_exception_to_string(e)
             bt.logging.error(