diff --git a/sdk/python/kubeflow/trainer/hf_llm_training.py b/sdk/python/kubeflow/trainer/hf_llm_training.py
index 26c48c08dd..c39c547c83 100644
--- a/sdk/python/kubeflow/trainer/hf_llm_training.py
+++ b/sdk/python/kubeflow/trainer/hf_llm_training.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 import json
 
 
-def setup_model_and_tokenizer(model_uri, transformer_type, model_dir, train_args):
+def setup_model_and_tokenizer(model_uri, transformer_type, model_dir):
     # Set up the model and tokenizer
     parsed_uri = urlparse(model_uri)
     model_name = parsed_uri.netloc + parsed_uri.path
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ def parse_arguments():
     args = parse_arguments()
     train_args = TrainingArguments(**json.loads(args.training_parameters))
     model, tokenizer = setup_model_and_tokenizer(
-        args.model_uri, args.transformer_type, args.model_dir, train_args
+        args.model_uri, args.transformer_type, args.model_dir
     )
     train_data, eval_data = load_and_preprocess_data(
         args.dataset_name, args.dataset_dir, args.transformer_type, tokenizer
diff --git a/sdk/python/kubeflow/training/api/training_client.py b/sdk/python/kubeflow/training/api/training_client.py
index a8187de7e0..fe62e0c271 100644
--- a/sdk/python/kubeflow/training/api/training_client.py
+++ b/sdk/python/kubeflow/training/api/training_client.py
@@ -171,7 +171,16 @@ def train(
                 ),
             )
         except Exception as e:
-            raise RuntimeError("failed to create pvc")
+            pvc_list = self.core_api.list_namespaced_persistent_volume_claim(namespace)
+            # Check if the PVC with the specified name exists
+            for pvc in pvc_list.items:
+                if pvc.metadata.name == constants.TRAINER_PVC_NAME:
+                    print(
+                        f"PVC '{constants.TRAINER_PVC_NAME}' already exists in namespace '{namespace}'."
+                    )
+                    break
+            else:
+                raise RuntimeError("failed to create pvc")
 
         if isinstance(model_provider_parameters, HuggingFaceModelParams):
             mp = "hf"
diff --git a/sdk/python/kubeflow/training/utils/utils.py b/sdk/python/kubeflow/training/utils/utils.py
index 655839225b..d4a9a0e011 100644
--- a/sdk/python/kubeflow/training/utils/utils.py
+++ b/sdk/python/kubeflow/training/utils/utils.py
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ def get_pytorchjob_template(
     master_pod_template_spec: models.V1PodTemplateSpec = None,
     worker_pod_template_spec: models.V1PodTemplateSpec = None,
     num_worker_replicas: Optional[int] = None,
-    num_procs_per_worker: Optional[int] = None,
+    num_procs_per_worker: Optional[int] = 0,
     elastic_policy: Optional[models.KubeflowOrgV1ElasticPolicy] = None,
 ):
     # Check if at least one replica is set.