diff --git a/tests/utils/test_checkpoint.py b/tests/utils/test_checkpoint.py
index fee88af6bc..695a2d0177 100644
--- a/tests/utils/test_checkpoint.py
+++ b/tests/utils/test_checkpoint.py
@@ -1139,6 +1139,12 @@ def test_best_checkpoint_path(self) -> None:
                 best_path,
             )
 
+            # apply sanitation
+            self.assertEqual(
+                get_best_checkpoint_path(temp_dir, "val/loss", "min"),
+                best_path,
+            )
+
             # handle negative values
             best_path_2 = os.path.join(temp_dir, "epoch_0_step_0_val_loss=-0.01")
             os.mkdir(best_path_2)
@@ -1373,6 +1379,15 @@ def test_get_checkpoint_dirpaths(self) -> None:
                 {path1, path2, path3},
             )
 
+            # with metric name sanitation
+            self.assertEqual(
+                {
+                    str(x)
+                    for x in get_checkpoint_dirpaths(temp_dir, metric_name="val/loss")
+                },
+                {path1, path2, path3},
+            )
+
         with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as temp_dir:
             self.assertEqual(
                 get_checkpoint_dirpaths(temp_dir),
diff --git a/torchtnt/utils/checkpoint.py b/torchtnt/utils/checkpoint.py
index 53e8f95ac6..7f05f08bde 100644
--- a/torchtnt/utils/checkpoint.py
+++ b/torchtnt/utils/checkpoint.py
@@ -28,12 +28,27 @@
 @dataclass
 class MetricData:
     """
-    Representation of a metric instance. Should provide both a metric name and it's value.
+    Representation of a metric instance. Should provide both a metric name and its value.
+
+    Note: The metric name is sanitized by replacing '/' with '_' to prevent potential issues
+        when using the name as a path or identifier.
     """
 
     name: str
     value: float
 
+    def __init__(self, name: str, value: float) -> None:
+        self.name = MetricData.sanitize_metric_name(name)
+        self.value = value
+
+    @classmethod
+    def sanitize_metric_name(cls, name: str) -> str:
+        """
+        Sanitizes a metric name by replacing '/' with '_'.
+        This is done to prevent potential issues when using the name as a path or identifier.
+        """
+        return name.replace("/", "_")
+
 
 @dataclass
 class BestCheckpointConfig:
@@ -481,9 +496,14 @@ def generate_checkpoint_path(
                 self._best_checkpoint_config
             ), "Attempted to get a checkpoint with metric but best checkpoint config is not set"
 
-            assert self._best_checkpoint_config.monitored_metric == metric_data.name, (
+            assert (
+                MetricData.sanitize_metric_name(
+                    self._best_checkpoint_config.monitored_metric
+                )
+                == metric_data.name
+            ), (
                 f"Attempted to get a checkpoint with metric '{metric_data.name}', "
-                f"but best checkpoint config is for '{none_throws(self._best_checkpoint_config).monitored_metric}'"
+                f"but best checkpoint config is for '{MetricData.sanitize_metric_name(none_throws(self._best_checkpoint_config).monitored_metric)}'"
             )
 
         checkpoint_path = CheckpointPath(
@@ -815,7 +835,8 @@ def _retrieve_checkpoint_dirpaths(
 
         # If a metric was provided, keep only the checkpoints tracking it
         if metric_name and not (
-            ckpt.metric_data and ckpt.metric_data.name == metric_name
+            ckpt.metric_data
+            and ckpt.metric_data.name == MetricData.sanitize_metric_name(metric_name)
         ):
             continue