diff --git a/gluoncv/auto/tasks/image_classification.py b/gluoncv/auto/tasks/image_classification.py
index 82afd90413..1e84dd8834 100644
--- a/gluoncv/auto/tasks/image_classification.py
+++ b/gluoncv/auto/tasks/image_classification.py
@@ -181,11 +181,7 @@ def __init__(self, config=None, estimator=None, logger=None):
 
         # scheduler options
         self.search_strategy = config.get('search_strategy', 'random')
-        self.search_options = config.get('search_options', None)
-        if self.search_options:
-            self.search_options.update({'debug_log': True})
-        else:
-            self.search_options = {'debug_log': True}
+        self.search_options = config.get('search_options', {})
         self.scheduler_options = {
             'resource': {'num_cpus': nthreads_per_trial, 'num_gpus': ngpus_per_trial},
             'checkpoint': config.get('checkpoint', 'checkpoint/exp1.ag'),
@@ -197,7 +193,8 @@ def __init__(self, config=None, estimator=None, logger=None):
             'reward_attr': 'acc_reward',
             'dist_ip_addrs': config.get('dist_ip_addrs', None),
             'searcher': self.search_strategy,
-            'search_options': self.search_options}
+            'search_options': self.search_options,
+            'max_reward': config.get('max_reward', 0.95)}
         if self.search_strategy == 'hyperband':
             self.scheduler_options.update({
                 'searcher': 'random',
diff --git a/gluoncv/auto/tasks/object_detection.py b/gluoncv/auto/tasks/object_detection.py
index 223fec06d1..329227d6d4 100644
--- a/gluoncv/auto/tasks/object_detection.py
+++ b/gluoncv/auto/tasks/object_detection.py
@@ -199,11 +199,7 @@ def __init__(self, config=None, logger=None):
 
         # scheduler options
         self.search_strategy = config.get('search_strategy', 'random')
-        self.search_options = config.get('search_options', None)
-        if self.search_options:
-            self.search_options.update({'debug_log': True})
-        else:
-            self.search_options = {'debug_log': True}
+        self.search_options = config.get('search_options', {})
         self.scheduler_options = {
             'resource': {'num_cpus': nthreads_per_trial, 'num_gpus': ngpus_per_trial},
             'checkpoint': config.get('checkpoint', 'checkpoint/exp1.ag'),
@@ -215,7 +211,8 @@ def __init__(self, config=None, logger=None):
             'reward_attr': 'map_reward',
             'dist_ip_addrs': config.get('dist_ip_addrs', None),
             'searcher': self.search_strategy,
-            'search_options': self.search_options}
+            'search_options': self.search_options,
+            'max_reward': config.get('max_reward', 0.9)}
         if self.search_strategy == 'hyperband':
             self.scheduler_options.update({
                 'searcher': 'random',