diff --git a/validate.py b/validate.py
index 27b88299..708ac2e5 100755
--- a/validate.py
+++ b/validate.py
@@ -38,6 +38,12 @@ try:
 except AttributeError:
     pass
 
+try:
+    from functorch.compile import memory_efficient_fusion
+    has_functorch = True
+except ImportError as e:
+    has_functorch = False
+
 torch.backends.cudnn.benchmark = True
 _logger = logging.getLogger('validate')
 
@@ -101,8 +107,11 @@ parser.add_argument('--tf-preprocessing', action='store_true', default=False,
                     help='Use Tensorflow preprocessing pipeline (require CPU TF installed')
 parser.add_argument('--use-ema', dest='use_ema', action='store_true',
                     help='use ema version of weights if present')
-parser.add_argument('--torchscript', dest='torchscript', action='store_true',
-                    help='convert model torchscript for inference')
+scripting_group = parser.add_mutually_exclusive_group()
+scripting_group.add_argument('--torchscript', dest='torchscript', action='store_true',
+                    help='torch.jit.script the full model')
+scripting_group.add_argument('--aot-autograd', default=False, action='store_true',
+                    help="Enable AOT Autograd support. (It's recommended to use this option with `--fuser nvfuser` together)")
 parser.add_argument('--fuser', default='', type=str,
                     help="Select jit fuser. One of ('', 'te', 'old', 'nvfuser')")
 parser.add_argument('--results-file', default='', type=str, metavar='FILENAME',
@@ -162,7 +171,10 @@ def validate(args):
 
     if args.torchscript:
         torch.jit.optimized_execution(True)
-        model = torch.jit.script(model)
+        model = torch.jit.trace(model, example_inputs=torch.randn((args.batch_size,) + data_config['input_size']))
+    if args.aot_autograd:
+        assert has_functorch, "functorch is needed for --aot-autograd"
+        model = memory_efficient_fusion(model)
 
     model = model.cuda()
     if args.apex_amp: