diff --git a/joeynmt_server/joey_model.py b/joeynmt_server/joey_model.py
index f944aa8cf013ad4b619eb35297d6da63dad21ec8..cca698d8481525ec697d608912872f4ea64c5563 100644
--- a/joeynmt_server/joey_model.py
+++ b/joeynmt_server/joey_model.py
@@ -125,6 +125,12 @@ class JoeyModel:
             self._train_dataset = self._load_train_dataset()
         return self._train_dataset
 
+    @property
+    def steps(self):
+        if self.train_manager:
+            return self.train_manager.stats.steps
+        return None
+
     def is_still_latest(self):
         train_config = self.config['training']
         latest_ckpt = get_latest_checkpoint(train_config['model_dir'])
diff --git a/joeynmt_server/models/evaluation_results.py b/joeynmt_server/models/evaluation_results.py
index 799e948363432fcdf4c49e471e16e28b1924758b..e971b1d6fe39849b06f33a904daf04ac9089151a 100644
--- a/joeynmt_server/models/evaluation_results.py
+++ b/joeynmt_server/models/evaluation_results.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ class EvaluationResult(BaseModel):
 
     label = db.Column(db.Unicode(50), nullable=False)
     model = db.Column(db.Unicode(500), nullable=False)
+    steps = db.Column(db.Integer, nullable=True)
     correct = db.Column(db.Integer, nullable=False)
     total = db.Column(db.Integer, nullable=False)
 
diff --git a/joeynmt_server/trainer.py b/joeynmt_server/trainer.py
index f1df7ee0bb9b8cd9be578b2470532e0e113a4410..87599ec4a554cc4ed7eeac6e7e720edf4d2a1402 100644
--- a/joeynmt_server/trainer.py
+++ b/joeynmt_server/trainer.py
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ def train_n_rounds(config_basename, min_rounds=10):
             model = train(config_basename, smallest_usage_count, train1,
                           train2)
 
-            if dev:
+            if dev and current_app.config.get('RUNNING_VALIDATION', True):
                 dev_set = make_dataset_from_feedback(dev, model)
                 logging.info('Validating on {} feedback pieces.'
                              .format(len(dev_set)))
@@ -179,8 +179,8 @@ def train_n_rounds(config_basename, min_rounds=10):
                 logging.info('Got validation result: {}/{} = {}.'
                              .format(correct, total, accuracy))
                 evr = EvaluationResult(
-                    label='running_dev', model=config_basename,
-                    correct=correct, total=total
+                    label='running_dev', steps=model.steps,
+                    model=config_basename, correct=correct, total=total
                 )
                 db.session.add(evr)
                 db.session.commit()
@@ -247,8 +247,9 @@ def validate(config_basename, dataset_name='dev'):
         correct = round(accuracy * total)
         logging.info('Got validation result: {}/{} = {}.'
                      .format(correct, total, accuracy))
-        evr = EvaluationResult(label=dataset_name, model=config_basename,
-                               correct=correct, total=total)
+        evr = EvaluationResult(label=dataset_name, steps=model.steps,
+                               model=config_basename, correct=correct,
+                               total=total)
         db.session.add(evr)
         db.session.commit()
     except: