diff --git a/vall_e/data.py b/vall_e/data.py
index 81424fd..40e15db 100755
--- a/vall_e/data.py
+++ b/vall_e/data.py
@@ -815,9 +815,15 @@ def _get_paths_of_extensions( path, extensions=_get_artifact_extension(), valida
 	
 	return [ p for p in list(path.iterdir()) ] if path.exists() and path.is_dir() else []
 
-def _load_artifact(path, return_metadata=False, return_artifact=False) -> Tensor:
+def _load_artifact(path, return_metadata=False, return_artifact=False, validate=True) -> Tensor:
 	artifact = np.load(_get_artifact_path(path), allow_pickle=True)[()]
-	codes = torch.from_numpy(artifact["codes"].astype(int)).to(torch.int16)
+	codes = artifact["codes"]
+	
+	if validate and np.count_nonzero(codes) == 0:
+		raise Exception(f"Artifact contains zero'd tensor: {path}")
+
+	codes = torch.from_numpy(codes.astype(int)).to(torch.int16)
+
 	# artifact was saved as a batch
 	if codes.dim() == 3:
 		codes = codes[0]