diff --git a/grudge/trace_pair.py b/grudge/trace_pair.py
index 5a7ef322d..ea1d5f880 100644
--- a/grudge/trace_pair.py
+++ b/grudge/trace_pair.py
@@ -840,7 +840,14 @@ def cross_rank_trace_pairs(
         {dcoll._part_id_helper.get_mpi_rank(part_id) for part_id in remote_part_ids})
 
     actx = get_container_context_recursively(ary)
-    assert actx is not None
+
+    if actx is None:
+        # NOTE: Assumes that the same number is passed on every rank
+        return [
+            TracePair(
+                volume_dd.trace(BTAG_PARTITION(remote_part_id)),
+                interior=ary, exterior=ary)
+            for remote_part_id in remote_part_ids]
 
     from grudge.array_context import MPIPytatoArrayContextBase
 
@@ -923,14 +930,6 @@ def cross_rank_inter_volume_trace_pairs(
                 break
         if actx is not None:
             break
-    assert actx is not None
-
-    from grudge.array_context import MPIPytatoArrayContextBase
-
-    if isinstance(actx, MPIPytatoArrayContextBase):
-        rbc_class = _RankBoundaryCommunicationLazy
-    else:
-        rbc_class = _RankBoundaryCommunicationEager
 
     def get_remote_connected_partitions(local_vol_dd, remote_vol_dd):
         connected_part_ids = _connected_partitions(
@@ -941,6 +940,26 @@ def get_remote_connected_partitions(local_vol_dd, remote_vol_dd):
             for part_id in connected_part_ids
             if dcoll._part_id_helper.get_mpi_rank(part_id) != rank]
 
+    if actx is None:
+        # NOTE: Assumes that the same number is passed on every rank for a
+        # given volume
+        return {
+            (remote_vol_dd, local_vol_dd): [
+                TracePair(
+                    local_vol_dd.trace(BTAG_PARTITION(remote_part_id)),
+                    interior=local_vol_ary, exterior=remote_vol_ary)
+                for remote_part_id in get_remote_connected_partitions(
+                    local_vol_dd, remote_vol_dd)]
+            for (remote_vol_dd, local_vol_dd), (remote_vol_ary, local_vol_ary)
+            in pairwise_volume_data.items()}
+
+    from grudge.array_context import MPIPytatoArrayContextBase
+
+    if isinstance(actx, MPIPytatoArrayContextBase):
+        rbc_class = _RankBoundaryCommunicationLazy
+    else:
+        rbc_class = _RankBoundaryCommunicationEager
+
     rank_bdry_communicators = {}
 
     for vol_dd_pair, vol_data_pair in pairwise_volume_data.items():