diff --git a/graphium/config/_loader.py b/graphium/config/_loader.py
index 7ae6d0b0a..d33489283 100644
--- a/graphium/config/_loader.py
+++ b/graphium/config/_loader.py
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@ def load_trainer(
     cfg_trainer = deepcopy(config["trainer"])
 
     # Define the IPU plugin if required
-    strategy = config["trainer"]["trainer"].get("strategy", "auto")
+    strategy = cfg_trainer["trainer"].pop("strategy", "auto")
     if accelerator_type == "ipu":
         ipu_opts, ipu_inference_opts = _get_ipu_opts(config)