diff --git a/pytorch_lightning/trainer/data_loading.py b/pytorch_lightning/trainer/data_loading.py
index 84f73827e3..a4ca9b3025 100644
--- a/pytorch_lightning/trainer/data_loading.py
+++ b/pytorch_lightning/trainer/data_loading.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ from pytorch_lightning.utilities.data import has_iterable_dataset, has_len
 from pytorch_lightning.utilities.exceptions import MisconfigurationException
 from pytorch_lightning.utilities.debugging import InternalDebugger
 from pytorch_lightning.utilities.model_utils import is_overridden
+from copy import deepcopy
 
 
 try:
@@ -233,14 +234,17 @@ class TrainerDataLoadingMixin(ABC):
         Returns:
             Tuple (num_batches, dataloaders)
         """
-        # use the training loader as val and test when overfitting
+        # always get the loaders first so we can count how many there are
         loader_name = f'{mode}_dataloader'
-        if self.overfit_batches > 0:
-            loader_name = 'train_dataloader'
-
-        # load loaders
         dataloaders = self.request_dataloader(getattr(model, loader_name))
 
+        # when overfitting use the training loader as val and test
+        # duplicate it the numb of times needed to match the train loaders
+        if self.overfit_batches > 0:
+            num_loaders = len(dataloaders)
+            train_dataloader = self.request_dataloader(getattr(model, 'train_dataloader'))
+            dataloaders = [deepcopy(train_dataloader) for _ in range(num_loaders)]
+
         if not isinstance(dataloaders, list):
             dataloaders = [dataloaders]
 
diff --git a/tests/trainer/flags/test_overfit_batches.py b/tests/trainer/flags/test_overfit_batches.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f9997292ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/trainer/flags/test_overfit_batches.py
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+import torch
+from tests.base.boring_model import BoringModel, RandomDataset
+from pytorch_lightning import Trainer
+
+
+def test_overfit_multiple_val_loaders(tmpdir):
+    """
+    Tests that only training_step can be used
+    """
+    class TestModel(BoringModel):
+
+        def validation_step(self, batch, batch_idx, dataloader_idx):
+            output = self.layer(batch[0])
+            loss = self.loss(batch, output)
+            return {"x": loss}
+
+        def validation_epoch_end(self, outputs) -> None:
+            pass
+
+        def val_dataloader(self):
+            dl1 = torch.utils.data.DataLoader(RandomDataset(32, 64))
+            dl2 = torch.utils.data.DataLoader(RandomDataset(32, 64))
+            return [dl1, dl2]
+
+    model = TestModel()
+
+    trainer = Trainer(
+        default_root_dir=tmpdir,
+        max_epochs=2,
+        overfit_batches=1,
+        row_log_interval=1,
+        weights_summary=None,
+    )
+
+    trainer.fit(model)