diff --git a/dist/synaptic.js b/dist/synaptic.js
index c46420b..aeb5340 100644
--- a/dist/synaptic.js
+++ b/dist/synaptic.js
@@ -1969,6 +1969,7 @@
 	      testSet = set.slice(numTrain);
 	    }
 
+	    var lastError = 0;
 	    while ((!abort && iterations < this.iterations && error > this.error)) {
 	      if (crossValidate && error <= this.crossValidate.testError) {
 	        break;
@@ -1984,7 +1985,7 @@
 	      }
 	      
 	      if(typeof this.rate === 'function') {
-	        currentRate = this.rate(iterations, error);
+	        currentRate = this.rate(iterations, lastError);
 	      }
 
 	      if (crossValidate) {
@@ -1998,6 +1999,7 @@
 
 	      // check error
 	      error /= currentSetSize;
+	      lastError = error;
 
 	      if (options) {
 	        if (this.schedule && this.schedule.every && iterations %
diff --git a/src/trainer.js b/src/trainer.js
index 6e58f95..40b57a3 100644
--- a/src/trainer.js
+++ b/src/trainer.js
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ Trainer.prototype = {
       testSet = set.slice(numTrain);
     }
 
+    var lastError = 0;
     while ((!abort && iterations < this.iterations && error > this.error)) {
       if (crossValidate && error <= this.crossValidate.testError) {
         break;
@@ -89,7 +90,7 @@ Trainer.prototype = {
       }
       
       if(typeof this.rate === 'function') {
-        currentRate = this.rate(iterations, error);
+        currentRate = this.rate(iterations, lastError);
       }
 
       if (crossValidate) {
@@ -103,6 +104,7 @@ Trainer.prototype = {
 
       // check error
       error /= currentSetSize;
+      lastError = error;
 
       if (options) {
         if (this.schedule && this.schedule.every && iterations %