diff --git a/dedupe/api.py b/dedupe/api.py
index 6a72c7cc..9bc6b052 100644
--- a/dedupe/api.py
+++ b/dedupe/api.py
@@ -1164,8 +1164,7 @@ def _read_training(self, training_file: TextIO) -> None:
         """
 
         logger.info("reading training from file")
-        training_pairs = serializer.read_training(training_file)
-        self.mark_pairs(training_pairs)
+        self.training_pairs = serializer.read_training(training_file)
 
     def train(
         self, recall: float = 1.00, index_predicates: bool = True