diff --git a/src/fairchem/core/models/escn/escn.py b/src/fairchem/core/models/escn/escn.py
index 020416344..c17b8bda7 100644
--- a/src/fairchem/core/models/escn/escn.py
+++ b/src/fairchem/core/models/escn/escn.py
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ def __init__(
         distance_resolution: float = 0.02,
         show_timing_info: bool = False,
         resolution: int | None = None,
+        activation_checkpoint: bool | None = False,
     ) -> None:
         if mmax_list is None:
             mmax_list = [2]
@@ -101,6 +102,7 @@ def __init__(
             logging.error("You need to install the e3nn library to use the SCN model")
             raise ImportError
 
+        self.activation_checkpoint = activation_checkpoint
         self.regress_forces = regress_forces
         self.use_pbc = use_pbc
         self.use_pbc_single = use_pbc_single
@@ -287,22 +289,19 @@ def forward(self, data):
         ###############################################################
 
         for i in range(self.num_layers):
-            if i > 0:
-                x_message = self.layer_blocks[i](
+            if self.activation_checkpoint:
+                x_message = torch.utils.checkpoint.checkpoint(
+                    self.layer_blocks[i],
                     x,
                     atomic_numbers,
                     graph.edge_distance,
                     graph.edge_index,
                     self.SO3_edge_rot,
                     mappingReduced,
+                    use_reentrant=not self.training,
                 )
-
-                # Residual layer for all layers past the first
-                x.embedding = x.embedding + x_message.embedding
-
             else:
-                # No residual for the first layer
-                x = self.layer_blocks[i](
+                x_message = self.layer_blocks[i](
                     x,
                     atomic_numbers,
                     graph.edge_distance,
@@ -311,6 +310,12 @@ def forward(self, data):
                     mappingReduced,
                 )
 
+            if i > 0:
+                # Residual layer for all layers past the first
+                x.embedding = x.embedding + x_message.embedding
+            else:
+                x = x_message
+
         # Sample the spherical channels (node embeddings) at evenly distributed points on the sphere.
         # These values are fed into the output blocks.
         x_pt = torch.tensor([], device=device)
diff --git a/tests/core/e2e/test_s2ef.py b/tests/core/e2e/test_s2ef.py
index c78725db1..68e3c8f65 100644
--- a/tests/core/e2e/test_s2ef.py
+++ b/tests/core/e2e/test_s2ef.py
@@ -316,6 +316,52 @@ def test_train_and_predict(
             num_workers=0,
         )
 
+    # test that both escn and equiv2 run with activation checkpointing
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        ("model_name"),
+        [
+            ("escn_hydra"),
+            ("equiformer_v2_hydra"),
+        ],
+    )
+    def test_train_and_predict_with_checkpointing(
+        self,
+        model_name,
+        configs,
+        tutorial_val_src,
+    ):
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tempdirname:
+            # first train a very simple model, checkpoint
+            train_rundir = Path(tempdirname) / "train"
+            train_rundir.mkdir()
+            checkpoint_path = str(train_rundir / "checkpoint.pt")
+            training_predictions_filename = str(train_rundir / "train_predictions.npz")
+            update_dict = {
+                "optim": {
+                    "max_epochs": 2,
+                    "eval_every": 8,
+                    "batch_size": 5,
+                    "num_workers": 1,
+                },
+                "dataset": oc20_lmdb_train_and_val_from_paths(
+                    train_src=str(tutorial_val_src),
+                    val_src=str(tutorial_val_src),
+                    test_src=str(tutorial_val_src),
+                ),
+            }
+            if "hydra" in model_name:
+                update_dict["model"] = {"backbone": {"activation_checkpoint": True}}
+            else:
+                update_dict["model"] = {"activation_checkpoint": True}
+            acc = _run_main(
+                rundir=str(train_rundir),
+                input_yaml=configs[model_name],
+                update_dict_with=update_dict,
+                save_checkpoint_to=checkpoint_path,
+                save_predictions_to=training_predictions_filename,
+                world_size=1,
+            )
+
     def test_use_pbc_single(self, configs, tutorial_val_src, torch_deterministic):
         with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tempdirname:
             tempdir = Path(tempdirname)