diff --git a/src/phoebus_driver.cpp b/src/phoebus_driver.cpp
index c26d2ad65..9dfaf07c6 100644
--- a/src/phoebus_driver.cpp
+++ b/src/phoebus_driver.cpp
@@ -91,6 +91,10 @@ TaskListStatus PhoebusDriver::Step() {
 // TODO(BRR) This is required for periodic BCs, unless the issue is radiation not being
 // included in ConvertBoundaryConditions
 void PhoebusDriver::PostInitializationCommunication() {
+  auto phoebus_package = pmesh->packages.Get("phoebus");
+  auto do_post_init_comms = phoebus_package->Param<bool>("do_post_init_comms");
+  if (!do_post_init_comms) return;
+
   TaskCollection tc;
   TaskID none(0);
   BlockList_t &blocks = pmesh->block_list;
diff --git a/src/phoebus_package.cpp b/src/phoebus_package.cpp
index 763d17c5d..ca77fa239 100644
--- a/src/phoebus_package.cpp
+++ b/src/phoebus_package.cpp
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ std::shared_ptr<StateDescriptor> Initialize(ParameterInput *pin) {
   params.Add("tlim", pin->GetReal("parthenon/time", "tlim"));
   params.Add("nlim", pin->GetReal("parthenon/time", "nlim"));
   params.Add("integrator", pin->GetString("parthenon/time", "integrator"));
+  params.Add("do_post_init_comms",
+             pin->GetOrAddBoolean("phoebus", "do_post_init_comms", false));
 
   // Store unit conversions
   params.Add("unit_conv", phoebus::UnitConversions(pin));