diff --git a/data/every_dream_validation.py b/data/every_dream_validation.py
index 2f92275..95f5afd 100644
--- a/data/every_dream_validation.py
+++ b/data/every_dream_validation.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ from utils.isolate_rng import isolate_rng
 
 def get_random_split(items: list[ImageTrainItem], split_proportion: float, batch_size: int) \
         -> tuple[list[ImageTrainItem], list[ImageTrainItem]]:
-    split_item_count = math.ceil(split_proportion * len(items) / batch_size) * batch_size
+    split_item_count = max(1, math.ceil(split_proportion * len(items)))
     # sort first, then shuffle, to ensure determinate outcome for the current random state
     items_copy = list(sorted(items, key=lambda i: i.pathname))
     random.shuffle(items_copy)
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ class EveryDreamValidator:
         Otherwise, the returned `list` is identical to the passed-in `train_items`.
         """
         with isolate_rng():
+            random.seed(self.seed)
             self.val_dataloader, remaining_train_items = self._build_val_dataloader_if_required(train_items, tokenizer)
             # order is important - if we're removing images from train, this needs to happen before making
             # the overlapping dataloader
diff --git a/utils/sample_generator.py b/utils/sample_generator.py
index 609a8e6..ffded1b 100644
--- a/utils/sample_generator.py
+++ b/utils/sample_generator.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ class SampleRequest:
     def __str__(self):
         rep = self.prompt
         if len(self.negative_prompt) > 0:
-            rep += "\n negative prompt: {self.negative_prompt}"
+            rep += f"\n negative prompt: {self.negative_prompt}"
         rep += f"\n seed: {self.seed}"
         return rep