diff --git a/src/art/local/backend.py b/src/art/local/backend.py
index eefde0d8f..bfa9b143c 100644
--- a/src/art/local/backend.py
+++ b/src/art/local/backend.py
@@ -658,12 +658,7 @@ def _log_metrics(
 
         # If we have a W&B run, log the data there
         if run := self._get_wandb_run(model):
-            # Mark the step metric itself as hidden so W&B doesn't create an automatic chart for it
-            wandb.define_metric("training_step", hidden=True)
-
-            # Enabling the following line will cause W&B to use the training_step metric as the x-axis for all metrics
-            # wandb.define_metric(f"{split}/*", step_metric="training_step")
-            run.log({"training_step": step, **metrics}, step=step)
+            run.log({"training_step": step, **metrics})
 
     def _get_wandb_run(self, model: Model) -> Run | None:
         if "WANDB_API_KEY" not in os.environ:
@@ -688,6 +683,12 @@ def _get_wandb_run(self, model: Model) -> Run | None:
                 ),
             )
             self._wandb_runs[model.name] = run
+
+            # Define training_step as the x-axis for all metrics.
+            # This allows out-of-order logging (e.g., async validation for previous steps).
+            wandb.define_metric("training_step")
+            wandb.define_metric("train/*", step_metric="training_step")
+            wandb.define_metric("val/*", step_metric="training_step")
             os.environ["WEAVE_PRINT_CALL_LINK"] = os.getenv(
                 "WEAVE_PRINT_CALL_LINK", "False"
             )