diff --git a/perform/pio_engine.c b/perform/pio_engine.c
index acc62ad48d..5f658ef146 100644
--- a/perform/pio_engine.c
+++ b/perform/pio_engine.c
@@ -633,8 +633,6 @@ fprintf(stderr, "proc %d: writes %ld bytes at mpi-offset %ld\n",
                     VRFY((hrc >= 0), "H5Sset_hyperslab");
                 }
 
-                MPI_Barrier(pio_comm_g);
-
                 /* set write time here */
                 hrc = H5Dwrite(h5ds_id, H5T_NATIVE_INT, h5mem_space_id,
                                h5dset_space_id, H5P_DEFAULT, buffer);
@@ -846,8 +844,6 @@ fprintf(stderr, "proc %d: read %ld bytes at mpi-offset %ld\n",
                     VRFY((hrc >= 0), "H5Sset_hyperslab");
                 }
 
-                MPI_Barrier(pio_comm_g);
-
                 /* set read time here */
                 hrc = H5Dread(h5ds_id, H5T_NATIVE_INT, h5mem_space_id,
                               h5dset_space_id, H5P_DEFAULT, buffer);