diff --git a/egs/librispeech/ASR/conformer_ctc/train.py b/egs/librispeech/ASR/conformer_ctc/train.py
index 755acda7a..223c8d993 100755
--- a/egs/librispeech/ASR/conformer_ctc/train.py
+++ b/egs/librispeech/ASR/conformer_ctc/train.py
@@ -606,6 +606,14 @@ def run(rank, world_size, args):
     train_dl = librispeech.train_dataloaders()
     valid_dl = librispeech.valid_dataloaders()
 
+    scan_pessimistic_batches_for_oom(
+        model=model,
+        train_dl=train_dl,
+        optimizer=optimizer,
+        graph_compiler=graph_compiler,
+        params=params,
+    )
+
     for epoch in range(params.start_epoch, params.num_epochs):
         train_dl.sampler.set_epoch(epoch)
 
@@ -646,6 +654,45 @@ def run(rank, world_size, args):
         cleanup_dist()
 
 
+def scan_pessimistic_batches_for_oom(
+    model: nn.Module,
+    train_dl: torch.utils.data.DataLoader,
+    optimizer: torch.optim.Optimizer,
+    graph_compiler: BpeCtcTrainingGraphCompiler,
+    params: AttributeDict,
+):
+    from lhotse.dataset import find_pessimistic_batches
+
+    logging.info(
+        "Sanity check -- see if any of the batches in epoch 0 would cause OOM."
+    )
+    batches, crit_values = find_pessimistic_batches(train_dl.sampler)
+    for criterion, cuts in batches.items():
+        batch = train_dl.dataset[cuts]
+        try:
+            optimizer.zero_grad()
+            loss, _ = compute_loss(
+                params=params,
+                model=model,
+                batch=batch,
+                graph_compiler=graph_compiler,
+                is_training=True,
+            )
+            loss.backward()
+            clip_grad_norm_(model.parameters(), 5.0, 2.0)
+            optimizer.step()
+        except RuntimeError as e:
+            if "CUDA out of memory" in str(e):
+                logging.error(
+                    "Your GPU ran out of memory with the current "
+                    "max_duration setting. We recommend decreasing "
+                    "max_duration and trying again.\n"
+                    f"Failing criterion: {criterion} "
+                    f"(={crit_values[criterion]}) ..."
+                )
+            raise
+
+
 def main():
     parser = get_parser()
     LibriSpeechAsrDataModule.add_arguments(parser)