diff --git a/deepof/train_model.py b/deepof/train_model.py
index 7d0efdb3a9958074dc013994400b21cf7ee5a408..4975c33ee8e5a9020ee1aa70d338359f6fd6c99a 100644
--- a/deepof/train_model.py
+++ b/deepof/train_model.py
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ arena_dims = args.arena_dims
 batch_size = args.batch_size
 hypertun_trials = args.hpt_trials
 encoding_size = args.encoding_size
-exclude_bodyparts = list(args.exclude_bodyparts.split(","))
+exclude_bodyparts = tuple(args.exclude_bodyparts.split(","))
 gaussian_filter = args.gaussian_filter
 hparams = args.hyperparameters
 input_type = args.input_type
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ project_coords = project(
     animal_ids=tuple([animal_id]),
     arena="circular",
     arena_dims=tuple([arena_dims]),
-    exclude_bodyparts=(None if exclude_bodyparts == [""] else exclude_bodyparts),
+    exclude_bodyparts=exclude_bodyparts,
     exp_conditions=treatment_dict,
     path=train_path,
     smooth_alpha=smooth_alpha,
diff --git a/deepof_experiments.smk b/deepof_experiments.smk
index 758fa3afc2db2f66f560321c01958e38b370d9e3..80c5a744de3b55ca2246d8e878aa34dfe27f7651 100644
--- a/deepof_experiments.smk
+++ b/deepof_experiments.smk
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ rule explore_encoding_dimension_and_loss_function:
     shell:
         "pipenv run python -m deepof.train_model "
         "--train-path {input.data_path} "
-        "--val-num 25 "
+        "--val-num 5 "
         "--components {wildcards.k} "
         "--input-type coords "
         "--predictor 0 "