diff --git a/submission_runner.py b/submission_runner.py
index e91d8fc83..b0981d941 100644
--- a/submission_runner.py
+++ b/submission_runner.py
@@ -165,7 +165,6 @@ def oom_observer(device, alloc, device_alloc, device_free):
     snapshot = torch.cuda.memory._snapshot()
     dump(snapshot, open('oom_snapshot.pickle', 'wb'))
 
-torch._C._cuda_attach_out_of_memory_observer(oom_observer)
 
 def _reset_cuda_mem():
   if FLAGS.framework == 'pytorch' and torch.cuda.is_available():
@@ -194,6 +193,9 @@ def train_once(
 ) -> Tuple[spec.Timing, Dict[str, Any]]:
   data_rng, opt_init_rng, model_init_rng, rng = prng.split(rng, 4)
 
+  if torch.cuda.is_initialized():
+    torch._C._cuda_attach_out_of_memory_observer(oom_observer)
+
   # Workload setup.
   logging.info('Initializing dataset.')
   with profiler.profile('Initializing dataset'):