diff --git a/dpipe/__version__.py b/dpipe/__version__.py
index d93b5b2..a6587ae 100644
--- a/dpipe/__version__.py
+++ b/dpipe/__version__.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-__version__ = '0.2.3'
+__version__ = '0.2.4'
diff --git a/dpipe/batch_iter/expiration_pool.py b/dpipe/batch_iter/expiration_pool.py
index c7f715f..659ff61 100644
--- a/dpipe/batch_iter/expiration_pool.py
+++ b/dpipe/batch_iter/expiration_pool.py
@@ -22,15 +22,17 @@ class ExpirationPool(Iterator):
     )
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, pool_size: int, repetitions: int):
-        super().__init__(partial(expiration_pool, pool_size=pool_size, repetitions=repetitions), )
+    def __init__(self, pool_size: int, repetitions: int, iterations: int = 1):
+        super().__init__(partial(expiration_pool, pool_size=pool_size, repetitions=repetitions, iterations=iterations))
 
 
-def expiration_pool(iterable: Iterable, pool_size: int, repetitions: int):
+def expiration_pool(iterable: Iterable, pool_size: int, repetitions: int, iterations: int = 1):
     """
     Caches ``pool_size`` items from ``iterable``.
     The item is removed from cache after it was generated ``repetitions`` times.
     After an item is removed, a new one is extracted from the ``iterable``.
+    Finally, ``iterations`` controls how many values are generated after a new value is added,
+    thus speeding up the pipeline at early stages.
     """
 
     assert pool_size > 0
@@ -51,7 +53,10 @@ def sample_value():
     value_frequency = {}  # i -> [value, frequency]
     for idx, value in iterable:
         value_frequency[idx] = [value, 0]
-        yield sample_value()
+
+        for _ in range(iterations):
+            if value_frequency:
+                yield sample_value()
 
         while len(value_frequency) >= pool_size:
             yield sample_value()
diff --git a/dpipe/batch_iter/pipeline.py b/dpipe/batch_iter/pipeline.py
index 7ad0927..6c571fa 100644
--- a/dpipe/batch_iter/pipeline.py
+++ b/dpipe/batch_iter/pipeline.py
@@ -131,6 +131,9 @@ def close(self):
         """Stop all background processes."""
         self.__exit__(None, None, None)
 
+    def __iter__(self):
+        return self()
+
     def __call__(self):
         if not self.pipeline.pipeline_active:
             self.__enter__()
diff --git a/dpipe/torch/functional.py b/dpipe/torch/functional.py
index 359ea6d..8b05b07 100644
--- a/dpipe/torch/functional.py
+++ b/dpipe/torch/functional.py
@@ -231,7 +231,8 @@ def masked_loss(mask: torch.Tensor, criterion: Callable, prediction: torch.Tenso
     If the ``mask`` is empty - returns 0 wrapped in a torch tensor.
     """
     if not mask.any():
-        return torch.tensor(0., requires_grad=True).to(prediction)
+        # https://github.com/neuro-ml/deep_pipe/issues/75
+        return 0 * prediction.flatten()[0]
 
     return criterion(prediction[mask], target[mask], **kwargs)