diff --git a/model_training_nnn_tpu/rnn_trainer.py b/model_training_nnn_tpu/rnn_trainer.py
index bf04428..e4bf28e 100644
--- a/model_training_nnn_tpu/rnn_trainer.py
+++ b/model_training_nnn_tpu/rnn_trainer.py
@@ -581,11 +581,11 @@ class BrainToTextDecoder_Trainer:
 
         val_steps_since_improvement = 0
 
-        # training params 
+        # training params
         save_best_checkpoint = self.args.get('save_best_checkpoint', True)
         early_stopping = self.args.get('early_stopping', True)
 
-        early_stopping_val_steps = self.args['early_stopping_val_steps']
+        early_stopping_val_steps = self.args.get('early_stopping_val_steps', 20)
 
         train_start_time = time.time()