diff --git a/tests/grad_norm_test.py b/tests/grad_norm_test.py
index 230ce1caf..2dff5fce3 100644
--- a/tests/grad_norm_test.py
+++ b/tests/grad_norm_test.py
@@ -212,26 +212,40 @@ def _naive_train_loop(
     norm_vector_a = []
     norm_vector_b = []
 
+    from olmo.torch_util import seed_all
+
     for epoch in range(max_epochs):
         for idx, batch in enumerate(data_loader):
             step_count = epoch * len_dataloader + idx
 
             optimizer_b.zero_grad()
-            optimizer_a.zero_grad()
-
-            from olmo.torch_util import seed_all
             seed_all(step_count)
 
-            # send exact same batch to both models
             logits_b = model_b(batch['input_ids'].to('cuda')).logits
-            logits_a = model_a(batch['input_ids'].to('cuda')).logits
-            
             loss_b = _lm_loss(logits_b, batch['input_ids'].to('cuda').clone())
-            loss_a = _lm_loss(logits_a, batch['input_ids'].to('cuda').clone())
 
             loss_b.backward()
+
+            # norm_vector_b.append(optimizer_b.clip_grads_and_collect_metrics(step_count)["total_grad_norm"])
+
+            _apply_scheduler(cfg, step_count, scheduler_b, optimizer_b)
+            optimizer_b.step()
+
+            ####################################################################
+
+            optimizer_a.zero_grad()
+            seed_all(step_count)
+
+            logits_a = model_a(batch['input_ids'].to('cuda')).logits
+            loss_a = _lm_loss(logits_a, batch['input_ids'].to('cuda').clone())
+
             loss_a.backward()
 
+            # norm_vector_a.append(clip_grad_norm_(model_a.parameters(), max_norm))
+
+            _apply_scheduler(cfg, step_count, scheduler_a, optimizer_a)
+            optimizer_a.step()
+
             ##########################################################
             # # deepcopy model_b and apply cliping at a param level
             # model_b_params = []
@@ -243,18 +257,6 @@ def _naive_train_loop(
             # total_norm = clip_grad_norm_(model_b_params, max_norm=1.)
             ##########################################################
 
-            # norm_vector_b.append(optimizer_b.clip_grads_and_collect_metrics(step_count)["total_grad_norm"])
-            # norm_vector_a.append(clip_grad_norm_(model_a.parameters(), max_norm))
-
-            # assert (total_norm - norm_vector_b[-1]).abs() < 1e-4
-
-            # apply olmo scheduler updates
-            _apply_scheduler(cfg, step_count, scheduler_b, optimizer_b)
-            _apply_scheduler(cfg, step_count, scheduler_a, optimizer_a)
-
-            optimizer_b.step()
-            optimizer_a.step()
-
             if step_count % 100 == 0:
                 print('Step: {:4d}, Loss_b: {:.4f}, Loss_a: {:.4f}'.format(step_count, loss_b, loss_a))