diff --git a/astrai/config/train_config.py b/astrai/config/train_config.py
index f08e742..084d84a 100644
--- a/astrai/config/train_config.py
+++ b/astrai/config/train_config.py
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ class TrainConfig(BaseConfig):
         random_seed (int): Random seed. Defaults to 3407.
         num_workers (int): Number of workers for dataloader. Defaults to 0.
         prefetch_factor (Optional[int]): Prefetch factor for dataloader. Defaults to None.
+        persistent_workers (bool): Keep DataLoader workers alive between epochs. Defaults to False.
         pin_memory (bool): Pin memory for dataloader. Defaults to False.
         collate_fn (Optional[Callable[[List[Any]], Any]]): Collate function for dataloader (e.g. dpo_collate_fn). Defaults to None.
         nprocs (int): Number of processes for distributed training. Defaults to 1.
@@ -98,6 +99,7 @@ class TrainConfig(BaseConfig):
     random_seed: int = 3407
     num_workers: int = 0
     prefetch_factor: Optional[int] = None
+    persistent_workers: bool = False
     pin_memory: bool = False
     collate_fn: Optional[Callable[[List[Any]], Any]] = None
 
diff --git a/astrai/trainer/train_context.py b/astrai/trainer/train_context.py
index c4d4f98..99f65f5 100644
--- a/astrai/trainer/train_context.py
+++ b/astrai/trainer/train_context.py
@@ -231,15 +231,22 @@ class TrainContextBuilder:
             seed=cfg.random_seed,
             shuffle=shuffle,
         )
-        return DataLoader(
-            dataset,
+        loader_kwargs = dict(
+            dataset=dataset,
             batch_size=cfg.batch_per_device,
             sampler=sampler,
             num_workers=cfg.num_workers,
             pin_memory=cfg.pin_memory,
-            prefetch_factor=cfg.prefetch_factor,
             collate_fn=cfg.collate_fn,
         )
+        # PyTorch rejects prefetch_factor/persistent_workers when workers=0.
+        if cfg.num_workers > 0:
+            loader_kwargs["persistent_workers"] = cfg.persistent_workers
+            if cfg.prefetch_factor is not None:
+                loader_kwargs["prefetch_factor"] = cfg.prefetch_factor
+        return DataLoader(
+            **loader_kwargs,
+        )
 
     def _restore_optimizer_state(self, context: TrainContext) -> None:
         if context.checkpoint and context.checkpoint.extra:
diff --git a/scripts/tools/train.py b/scripts/tools/train.py
index fd0402b..10cdbb3 100644
--- a/scripts/tools/train.py
+++ b/scripts/tools/train.py
@@ -251,6 +251,12 @@ _START_METHODS = ["spawn", "fork", "forkserver"]
     group="Data Loading",
     help="Pin memory.",
 )
+@opt(
+    "--persistent_workers/--no-persistent_workers",
+    default=True,
+    group="Data Loading",
+    help="Keep DataLoader workers alive between epochs.",
+)
 @opt(
     "--window_size",
     type=int,
@@ -606,6 +612,7 @@ def train(
     random_seed: int,
     num_workers: int,
     pin_memory: bool,
+    persistent_workers: bool,
     gradient_checkpointing: bool,
     window_size: int,
     stride: int,
@@ -797,6 +804,7 @@ def train(
         random_seed=random_seed,
         num_workers=num_workers,
         pin_memory=pin_memory,
+        persistent_workers=persistent_workers,
         nprocs=nprocs,
         backend=backend,
         master_addr=master_addr,