diff --git a/data/data_loader.py b/data/data_loader.py
index 28fcd00..d97e38e 100644
--- a/data/data_loader.py
+++ b/data/data_loader.py
@@ -15,13 +15,13 @@ limitations under the License.
 """
 import bisect
 import logging
-from functools import reduce
+import os.path
+from collections import defaultdict
 import math
-import copy
 
 import random
-from data.image_train_item import ImageTrainItem, ImageCaption
-import PIL
+from data.image_train_item import ImageTrainItem
+import PIL.Image
 
 PIL.Image.MAX_IMAGE_PIXELS = 715827880*4 # increase decompression bomb error limit to 4x default
 
@@ -39,9 +39,9 @@ class DataLoaderMultiAspect():
         self.prepared_train_data = image_train_items
         random.Random(self.seed).shuffle(self.prepared_train_data)
         self.prepared_train_data = sorted(self.prepared_train_data, key=lambda img: img.caption.rating())
-        self.epoch_size = math.floor(sum([i.multiplier for i in self.prepared_train_data]))
-        if self.epoch_size != len(self.prepared_train_data):
-            logging.info(f" * DLMA initialized with {len(image_train_items)} source images. After applying multipliers, each epoch will train on at least {self.epoch_size} images.")
+        expected_epoch_size = math.floor(sum([i.multiplier for i in self.prepared_train_data]))
+        if expected_epoch_size != len(self.prepared_train_data):
+            logging.info(f" * DLMA initialized with {len(image_train_items)} source images. After applying multipliers, each epoch will train on at least {expected_epoch_size} images.")
         else:
             logging.info(f" * DLMA initialized with {len(image_train_items)} images.")
 
@@ -50,12 +50,12 @@ class DataLoaderMultiAspect():
         self.__update_rating_sums()
 
 
-    def __pick_multiplied_set(self, randomizer):
+    def __pick_multiplied_set(self, randomizer: random.Random):
         """
         Deals with multiply.txt whole and fractional numbers
         """
         picked_images = []
-        fractional_images = []
+        fractional_images_per_directory = defaultdict(list[ImageTrainItem])
         for iti in self.prepared_train_data:
             multiplier = iti.multiplier
             while multiplier >= 1:
@@ -63,20 +63,15 @@ class DataLoaderMultiAspect():
                 multiplier -= 1
             # fractional remainders must be dealt with separately
             if multiplier > 0:
-                fractional_images.append((iti, multiplier))
+                directory = os.path.dirname(iti.pathname)
+                fractional_images_per_directory[directory].append(iti)
 
-        target_epoch_size = self.epoch_size
-        while len(picked_images) < target_epoch_size and len(fractional_images) > 0:
-            # cycle through fractional_images, randomly shifting each over to picked_images based on its multiplier
-            iti, multiplier = fractional_images.pop(0)
-            if randomizer.uniform(0, 1) < multiplier:
-                # shift it over to picked_images
-                picked_images.append(iti)
-            else:
-                # put it back and move on to the next
-                fractional_images.append((iti, multiplier))
-
-        assert len(picked_images) == target_epoch_size, "Something went wrong while attempting to apply multipliers"
+        # resolve fractional parts per-directory
+        for _, fractional_items in fractional_images_per_directory.items():
+            randomizer.shuffle(fractional_items)
+            multiplier = fractional_items[0].multiplier % 1.0
+            count_to_take = math.ceil(multiplier * len(fractional_items))
+            picked_images.extend(fractional_items[:count_to_take])
 
         return picked_images
 
diff --git a/train.py b/train.py
index 32f35ba..c63c471 100644
--- a/train.py
+++ b/train.py
@@ -550,6 +550,7 @@ def main(args):
     except Exception as e:
         traceback.print_exc()
         logging.error(" * Failed to load checkpoint *")
+        raise
 
     if args.gradient_checkpointing:
         unet.enable_gradient_checkpointing()