diff --git a/hippogriff.py b/hippogriff.py
index 0f7d915..04de67a 100644
--- a/hippogriff.py
+++ b/hippogriff.py
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ def __init__(self, *, dim=1024, expansion_factor=1.5, kernel_size=4):
         self.gates = nn.Linear(hidden, 2*hidden, bias=True)
         self.forget_base = nn.Parameter(torch.linspace(-4.323, -9, hidden))
         self.output = nn.Linear(hidden, dim, bias=False)
-        self.alpha_log_scale = nn.Parameter(-8 * torch.ones(1), requires_grad=False)
+        self.alpha_log_scale = nn.Parameter(torch.tensor([8]).log(), requires_grad=False)
 
         with torch.no_grad():
             self.input.weight.normal_(std=dim**-0.5)
@@ -58,8 +58,8 @@ def forward(self, x):
 
         # RG-LRU: linear recurrent unit with input-dependent gating
         forget, input = self.gates(x).chunk(2, dim=-1)
-        alpha = (self.alpha_log_scale * softplus(self.forget_base) * forget.sigmoid()).exp()
-        beta = (1 - alpha**2 + 1e-6).sqrt()
+        alpha = (-self.alpha_log_scale.exp() * softplus(self.forget_base) * forget.sigmoid()).exp()
+        beta = (1 - alpha**2 + 1e-6).sqrt() # stabilizes variance
         x = beta * input.sigmoid() * x
 
         h = scan(alpha.mT.contiguous(), x.mT.contiguous()).mT
diff --git a/sweeps/alpha_log_scale.py b/sweeps/alpha_log_scale.py
index ed0ef42..23ac21a 100644
--- a/sweeps/alpha_log_scale.py
+++ b/sweeps/alpha_log_scale.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 from pathlib import Path
 import torch
 import wandb
+import math
 
 from train import train, Tapes, parser, device
 from hippogriff import GriffinLM, GriffinConfig
@@ -21,7 +22,7 @@ def make_model(alpha_log_scale, vocab_size=16384, device='cuda'):
             if alpha_log_scale == 'learn':
                 param.requires_grad = True
             else:
-                param.data.fill_(alpha_log_scale)
+                param.data.fill_(math.log(alpha_log_scale))
                 param.requires_grad = False
     
     return model
@@ -47,7 +48,7 @@ def run():
     "method": "grid",
     "metric": {"goal": "minimize", "name": "eval/loss"},
     "parameters": {
-        "alpha_log_scale": {"values": ["learn", -8, -7, -6, -5, -4, -3, -2, -1]},
+        "alpha_log_scale": {"values": ["learn", 14, 8, 4]},
     },
 }