diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yml b/.github/workflows/test.yml
index 99d0cd2048..0ae74053fe 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yml
@@ -318,6 +318,9 @@ jobs:
           CLOUDDEV=CLANG CLOUD=1 python3 test/test_tiny.py
           CLOUDDEV=GPU CLOUD=1 python3 test/test_tiny.py
           CLOUDDEV=GPU IMAGE=2 CLOUD=1 python3 test/test_tiny.py
+      - if: ${{ matrix.task == 'onnx' }}
+        name: Test Optimization Helpers
+        run: PYTHONPATH="." DEBUG=1 python3 extra/optimization/test_helpers.py
       - if: ${{ matrix.task == 'onnx' }}
         name: Test Action Space
         run: PYTHONPATH="." DEBUG=1 GPU=1 python3 extra/optimization/get_action_space.py
diff --git a/extra/optimization/helpers.py b/extra/optimization/helpers.py
index 9dcaf8133c..c433359d6c 100644
--- a/extra/optimization/helpers.py
+++ b/extra/optimization/helpers.py
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ def load_worlds(filter_reduce=True, filter_noimage=True, filter_novariable=True)
   if DEBUG >= 1: print(f"loaded {len(ast_strs)=} before filters")
   if filter_reduce: ast_strs = [x for x in ast_strs if "REDUCE_AXIS" in x]
   if filter_noimage: ast_strs = [x for x in ast_strs if "dtypes.image" not in x]
-  if filter_novariable: ast_strs = [x for x in ast_strs if "Variable" not in x]
-  if DEBUG >= 1: print(f"loaded {len(ast_strs)=} after filters")
+  if filter_novariable: ast_strs = [x for x in ast_strs if "DEFINE_VAR" not in x]
+  if DEBUG >= 1: print(f"loaded {len(ast_strs)=} after filters {filter_reduce=}, {filter_noimage=}, {filter_novariable=}")
   random.seed(1337)
   random.shuffle(ast_strs)
   return ast_strs
diff --git a/extra/optimization/test_helpers.py b/extra/optimization/test_helpers.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..bd11f3d712
--- /dev/null
+++ b/extra/optimization/test_helpers.py
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+import unittest
+
+from extra.optimization.helpers import load_worlds
+
+class TestKernelDataset(unittest.TestCase):
+  def test_load_worlds_filters(self):
+    all_kernels = load_worlds(filter_reduce=False, filter_noimage=False, filter_novariable=False)
+
+    reduce_kernels = load_worlds(filter_reduce=True, filter_noimage=False, filter_novariable=False)
+    self.assertGreater(len(all_kernels), len(reduce_kernels))
+
+    image_kernels = load_worlds(filter_reduce=False, filter_noimage=True, filter_novariable=False)
+    self.assertGreater(len(all_kernels), len(image_kernels))
+
+    variable_kernels = load_worlds(filter_reduce=False, filter_noimage=False, filter_novariable=True)
+    self.assertGreater(len(all_kernels), len(variable_kernels))
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+  unittest.main()
\ No newline at end of file