diff --git a/src/zeroband/diloco.py b/src/zeroband/diloco.py
index 9486a97e..3a11f809 100644
--- a/src/zeroband/diloco.py
+++ b/src/zeroband/diloco.py
@@ -81,14 +81,25 @@ def _init_offloaded_optimizer(self, model):
         )
         self._logger.debug("offload model to cpu")
 
-    def sync_pseudo_gradient(self, model: nn.Module, fake: bool = False, flag: str = "outer"):
+    def sync_pseudo_gradient(
+        self, model: nn.Module, fake: bool = False, flag: str = "outer", num_effective_peers: int | None = None
+    ):
         """
         Sync the pseudo gradient from the local process group to the global process group
         """
         _start_time = time.perf_counter()
-        self._logger.debug("sync pseudo gradient %s", " fake" if fake else "")
 
+        world_size_pre_init = self.elastic_device_mesh.global_pg.size()
         self.elastic_device_mesh.maybe_reinit_global_pg(admit_joiners=False)
+        world_size_post_init = self.elastic_device_mesh.global_pg.size()
+
+        if world_size_pre_init == world_size_post_init and num_effective_peers is not None:
+            world_size = num_effective_peers
+        else:
+            world_size = world_size_post_init
+
+        self._logger.debug("sync pseudo gradient %s with world size %d", " fake" if fake else "", world_size)
+
         global_pg = self.elastic_device_mesh.global_pg
         for i in range(self.config.retry_all_reduce):
             for param_offloaded, param in zip(self.param_list_cpu, model.parameters()):
@@ -98,7 +109,7 @@ def sync_pseudo_gradient(self, model: nn.Module, fake: bool = False, flag: str =
                     param_offloaded.grad.to_local().copy_(param_offloaded.data.to_local())
                     param_offloaded.grad.to_local().sub_(param.data.to_local().to(param_offloaded.data.device))
             try:
-                self.offloaded_grad_flat_tensor.div_(global_pg.size())
+                self.offloaded_grad_flat_tensor.div_(world_size)
                 _collective_start_time = time.perf_counter()
                 self._logger.debug("Waiting on barrier")
                 self.elastic_device_mesh.monitored_barrier(flag)
@@ -198,12 +209,12 @@ def get_offloaded_param(self, model: nn.Module) -> list[nn.Parameter]:
         # )
         return offloaded_params
 
-    def step(self, model: nn.Module, fake: bool = False, flag: str = "outer"):
+    def step(self, model: nn.Module, fake: bool = False, num_effective_peers: int | None = None, flag: str = "outer"):
         """
         Step the optimizer
         """
         time_start = time.perf_counter()
-        self.sync_pseudo_gradient(model, fake=fake, flag=flag)
+        self.sync_pseudo_gradient(model, fake=fake, flag=flag, num_effective_peers=num_effective_peers)
         self._logger.info(f"all reduce pseudo gradient in: {time.perf_counter() - time_start} seconds")
 
         if self.outer_optimizer is not None:
diff --git a/src/zeroband/train.py b/src/zeroband/train.py
index 11014f50..4089de7c 100644
--- a/src/zeroband/train.py
+++ b/src/zeroband/train.py
@@ -316,7 +316,10 @@ def train(config: Config):
         time_start_outer = time.perf_counter()
 
         if config.diloco is not None:
+            # this is a patch for now to allow live recovery worker to not affect the all reduce at all
+            num_effective_peers = elastic_device_mesh.global_pg.size()
             elastic_device_mesh.maybe_reinit_global_pg(admit_joiners=True)
+
         # at the beginning of the inner steps we allow joiner to arrive.
         # We maybe reinit before the all reduce but only to allow leaving, not to join anymore
 
@@ -459,7 +462,7 @@ def train(config: Config):
             ckpt_manager.cache_inner_optimizer()
 
             time_start_inner = time.perf_counter()
-            diloco.step(model, flag=training_progress.outer_step)
+            diloco.step(model=model, flag=training_progress.outer_step, num_effective_peers=num_effective_peers)
             diloco_time = time.perf_counter() - time_start_inner
 
             if config.train.log_model_hash: