diff --git a/src/vt/pmpi/generate_mpi_wrappers.pl b/src/vt/pmpi/generate_mpi_wrappers.pl
index f9c8931eaf..7f5309d993 100644
--- a/src/vt/pmpi/generate_mpi_wrappers.pl
+++ b/src/vt/pmpi/generate_mpi_wrappers.pl
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ sub register_event {
 sub log_event {
     my ($name) = @_;
     say "#if backend_check_enabled(trace_enabled)";
-    say "  auto scopedEvent = vt::trace::TraceScopedEvent(event_${name});";
+    say "  auto scopedEvent = vt::trace::TraceScopedEvent(vt::thePMPI()->shouldLogCall() ? event_${name} : vt::trace::no_user_event_id);";
     say "#endif";
 }
 
diff --git a/src/vt/pmpi/pmpi_component.h b/src/vt/pmpi/pmpi_component.h
index ddf25ec752..46feafbb4f 100644
--- a/src/vt/pmpi/pmpi_component.h
+++ b/src/vt/pmpi/pmpi_component.h
@@ -72,6 +72,14 @@ struct PMPIComponent : runtime::component::Component<PMPIComponent> {
     registerEventHandlers();
   }
 
+  /**
+   * \internal
+   * \brief Return true iff a PMPI call should be logged in the current context.
+   */
+  bool shouldLogCall() {
+    return true;
+  }
+
 private:
 
   // n.b. This is exepcted to be generated by the generated pmpi wrapper code.
@@ -81,6 +89,10 @@ struct PMPIComponent : runtime::component::Component<PMPIComponent> {
 
 }} //end namespace vt::pmpi
 
+namespace vt {
+  extern pmpi::PMPIComponent* thePMPI();
+}
+
 #endif // backend_check_enabled(pmpi_access_guards)
 
 #endif /*INCLUDED_PMPI_PMPI_COMPONENT*/
diff --git a/src/vt/runtime/runtime_component_fwd.h b/src/vt/runtime/runtime_component_fwd.h
index c33e15d331..26146c5e3d 100644
--- a/src/vt/runtime/runtime_component_fwd.h
+++ b/src/vt/runtime/runtime_component_fwd.h
@@ -111,6 +111,11 @@ namespace trace {
 struct Trace;
 }
 #endif
+#if backend_check_enabled(mpi_access_guards)
+namespace pmpi {
+struct PMPIComponent;
+}
+#endif
 
 } /* end namespace vt */
 
diff --git a/src/vt/runtime/runtime_get.cc b/src/vt/runtime/runtime_get.cc
index 2d76bef022..febaefa5d5 100644
--- a/src/vt/runtime/runtime_get.cc
+++ b/src/vt/runtime/runtime_get.cc
@@ -132,7 +132,10 @@ vrt::collection::balance::StatsRestartReader* theStatsReader() { return CUR_RT->
 vrt::collection::balance::LBManager* theLBManager() { return CUR_RT->theLBManager;      }
 
 #if backend_check_enabled(trace_enabled)
-trace::Trace*               theTrace()          { return CUR_RT->theTrace;          }
+trace::Trace*               theTrace()              { return CUR_RT->theTrace;          }
+#endif
+#if backend_check_enabled(mpi_access_guards)
+pmpi::PMPIComponent*        thePMPI()               { return CUR_RT->thePMPI;           }
 #endif
 
 #undef CUR_RT