diff --git a/src/axolotl/utils/schemas/config.py b/src/axolotl/utils/schemas/config.py
index 24d668d79..78b0d909e 100644
--- a/src/axolotl/utils/schemas/config.py
+++ b/src/axolotl/utils/schemas/config.py
@@ -444,76 +444,48 @@ class AxolotlInputConfig(
     @classmethod
     def normalize_attn(cls, data):  # pylint: disable=too-many-return-statements
         attention = data.get("attention")
-        # cases where attention is set and the specific *_attention is not set
-        if (
-            not (
-                data.get("flash_attention")
-                or data.get("flex_attention")
-                or data.get("eager_attention")
-                or data.get("s2_attention")
-                or data.get("sdp_attention")
-                or data.get("xformers_attention")
-            )
-            and attention
-        ):
-            if attention == AttentionBackend.eager:
-                data["eager_attention"] = True
-            elif attention == AttentionBackend.flash:
-                data["flash_attention"] = True
-            elif attention == AttentionBackend.flex:
-                data["flex_attention"] = True
-            elif attention == AttentionBackend.s2:
-                data["s2_attention"] = True
-            elif attention == AttentionBackend.sdpa:
-                data["sdp_attention"] = True
-            elif attention == AttentionBackend.xformers:
-                data["xformers_attention"] = True
+
+        # Define mapping between enum values and flag names
+        backend_mapping = {
+            AttentionBackend.eager: "eager_attention",
+            AttentionBackend.flash: "flash_attention",
+            AttentionBackend.flex: "flex_attention",
+            AttentionBackend.s2: "s2_attention",
+            AttentionBackend.sdpa: "sdp_attention",
+            AttentionBackend.xformers: "xformers_attention",
+        }
+
+        # Check if any attention flag is set
+        any_flag_set = any(
+            data.get(flag_name) for flag_name in backend_mapping.values()
+        )
+
+        # CASE 1: attention is set but no flags are set - set the corresponding flag
+        if attention and not any_flag_set:
+            flag_name = backend_mapping.get(attention)
+            if flag_name:
+                data[flag_name] = True
             return data
 
+        # CASE 2: no attention set but flags are set - set attention from flags
         if not attention:
             LOG.warning(
                 "*_attention will be deprecated soon. One of `attention: eager | flash | flex | s2 | sdp | xformers` is recommended"
             )
 
-        # attention should always be set since that's a requirement, defaults to None
-        if data.get("eager_attention"):
-            if not attention:
-                data["attention"] = AttentionBackend.eager
-                return data
-            if attention != AttentionBackend.eager:
-                raise ValueError("attention mismatch with eager_attention already set")
-        if data.get("flash_attention"):
-            if not attention:
-                data["attention"] = AttentionBackend.flash
-                return data
-            if attention != AttentionBackend.flash:
-                raise ValueError("attention mismatch with flash_attention already set")
-        if data.get("flex_attention"):
-            if not attention:
-                data["attention"] = AttentionBackend.flex
-                return data
-            if attention != AttentionBackend.flex:
-                raise ValueError("attention mismatch with flex_attention already set")
-        if data.get("s2_attention"):
-            if not attention:
-                data["attention"] = AttentionBackend.s2
-                return data
-            if attention != AttentionBackend.s2:
-                raise ValueError("attention mismatch with s2_attention already set")
-        if data.get("sdp_attention"):
-            if not attention:
-                data["attention"] = AttentionBackend.sdpa
-                return data
-            if attention != AttentionBackend.sdpa:
-                raise ValueError("attention mismatch with sdp_attention already set")
-        if data.get("xformers_attention"):
-            if not attention:
-                data["attention"] = AttentionBackend.xformers
-                return data
-            if attention != AttentionBackend.xformers:
-                raise ValueError(
-                    "attention mismatch with xformers_attention already set"
-                )
+            # Find the first True flag and set attention accordingly
+            for backend, flag_name in backend_mapping.items():
+                if data.get(flag_name):
+                    data["attention"] = backend
+                    return data
+
+        # CASE 3: both attention and flags are set - check for consistency
+        if attention:
+            expected_flag = backend_mapping.get(attention)
+            for backend, flag_name in backend_mapping.items():
+                # If a flag is set that doesn't match the attention value
+                if data.get(flag_name) and flag_name != expected_flag:
+                    raise ValueError(f"attention mismatch with {flag_name} already set")
 
         return data