diff --git a/python/paddle/fluid/optimizer.py b/python/paddle/fluid/optimizer.py
index 4aae43ccdbe3d6d58fcdcf435309a41dcde8bcd0..9a5511441481513f5c96729227c55c95953a297e 100755
--- a/python/paddle/fluid/optimizer.py
+++ b/python/paddle/fluid/optimizer.py
@@ -4663,6 +4663,7 @@ class PipelineOptimizer(object):
         pre_stage_id = None
         decrease_flag = False
         in_optimize = False
+        in_forward = True
         for op in block.ops:
             if not op._has_kernel(op.type):
                 assert op.type == "conditional_block" and (
@@ -4680,6 +4681,8 @@ class PipelineOptimizer(object):
                     valid_op_role_value)
             if int(op_role) == int(self._op_role.Optimize):
                 in_optimize = True
+            if int(op_role) == int(self._op_role.Backward):
+                in_forward = False
 
             assert op.has_attr(self._op_device_key), (
                 "op ({}) has no {} attribute.".format(op.type,
@@ -4707,14 +4710,16 @@ class PipelineOptimizer(object):
                         "but the interval of op={} and prev op is {}".format(op, interval)
                     # stage must be in order, such as Forward(0 1 2 3 4), Backward(4 3 2 1 0)
                     # if stage is unordered, such as Forward(0 1 2 3 4 3 4), will report error
-                    if interval == -1:
-                        decrease_flag = True
-                    if interval == 1:
-                        # FIXME(wangxi): recompute failed
+                    if in_forward:
+                        assert interval >= 0, \
+                            "Pipeline stage must be sequential increment in Forward, prev_stage={}, " \
+                            "please check the stage of op={}".format(pre_stage_id, op)
+                    else:
+                        # FIXME(wangxi): recompute check failed
                         pass
-                        #assert decrease_flag is False, \
-                        #    "Pipeline stage must be in order, " \
-                        #    "please check the stage of op={}".format(op)
+                        #assert interval <=0, \
+                        #    "Pipeline stage must be sequential decrement in Backward, prev_stage={}, " \
+                        #    "please check the stage of op={}".format(pre_stage_id, op)
                 pre_stage_id = stage_id
 
         return device_list