diff --git a/grudge/discretization.py b/grudge/discretization.py
index 466ca163b..3ead9485f 100644
--- a/grudge/discretization.py
+++ b/grudge/discretization.py
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 THE SOFTWARE.
 """
 
+from typing import Callable
 from pytools import memoize_method
 
 from grudge.dof_desc import (
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@
     DISCR_TAG_MODAL,
     DTAG_BOUNDARY,
     DOFDesc,
+    DiscretizationTag,
     as_dofdesc
 )
 
@@ -44,10 +46,12 @@
 
 from arraycontext import ArrayContext
 
+from meshmode.discretization import ElementGroupFactory
 from meshmode.discretization.connection import (
     FACE_RESTR_INTERIOR,
     FACE_RESTR_ALL,
-    make_face_restriction
+    make_face_restriction,
+    DiscretizationConnection
 )
 from meshmode.mesh import Mesh, BTAG_PARTITION
 
@@ -174,9 +178,18 @@ def __init__(self, array_context: ArrayContext, mesh: Mesh,
 
         # }}}
 
-        self._dist_boundary_connections = \
-                self._set_up_distributed_communication(
-                        mpi_communicator, array_context)
+        self._dist_boundary_connections = _get_dist_boundary_connections_single_vol(
+                volume_discr=self._volume_discr,
+                mpi_communicator=mpi_communicator,
+                array_context=self._setup_actx,
+                get_group_factory_for_discretization_tag=(
+                    self.group_factory_for_discretization_tag),
+                get_connection_to_rank_boundary=(
+                    lambda remote_rank:
+                    self.connection_from_dds(
+                        DOFDesc("vol", DISCR_TAG_BASE),
+                        DOFDesc(BTAG_PARTITION(remote_rank),
+                            DISCR_TAG_BASE))),)
 
     # }}}
 
@@ -201,40 +214,6 @@ def is_management_rank(self):
 
     # {{{ distributed
 
-    def _set_up_distributed_communication(self, mpi_communicator, array_context):
-        from_dd = DOFDesc("vol", DISCR_TAG_BASE)
-
-        boundary_connections = {}
-
-        from meshmode.distributed import get_connected_partitions
-        connected_parts = get_connected_partitions(self._volume_discr.mesh)
-
-        if connected_parts:
-            if mpi_communicator is None:
-                raise RuntimeError("must supply an MPI communicator when using a "
-                    "distributed mesh")
-
-            grp_factory = \
-                self.group_factory_for_discretization_tag(DISCR_TAG_BASE)
-
-            local_boundary_connections = {}
-            for i_remote_part in connected_parts:
-                local_boundary_connections[i_remote_part] = self.connection_from_dds(
-                        from_dd, DOFDesc(BTAG_PARTITION(i_remote_part),
-                        DISCR_TAG_BASE))
-
-            from meshmode.distributed import MPIBoundaryCommSetupHelper
-            with MPIBoundaryCommSetupHelper(mpi_communicator, array_context,
-                    local_boundary_connections, grp_factory) as bdry_setup_helper:
-                while True:
-                    conns = bdry_setup_helper.complete_some()
-                    if not conns:
-                        break
-                    for i_remote_part, conn in conns.items():
-                        boundary_connections[i_remote_part] = conn
-
-        return boundary_connections
-
     def distributed_boundary_swap_connection(self, dd):
         """Provides a mapping from the base volume discretization
         to the exterior boundary restriction on a parallel boundary
@@ -719,6 +698,45 @@ def normal(self, dd):
     # }}}
 
 
+# {{{ distributed setup
+
+def _get_dist_boundary_connections_single_vol(
+        volume_discr, mpi_communicator, array_context,
+        get_group_factory_for_discretization_tag: Callable[
+            [DiscretizationTag], ElementGroupFactory],
+        get_connection_to_rank_boundary: Callable[[int], DiscretizationConnection]):
+    boundary_connections = {}
+
+    from meshmode.distributed import get_connected_partitions
+    connected_parts = get_connected_partitions(volume_discr.mesh)
+
+    if connected_parts:
+        if mpi_communicator is None:
+            raise RuntimeError("must supply an MPI communicator when using a "
+                "distributed mesh")
+
+        grp_factory = get_group_factory_for_discretization_tag(DISCR_TAG_BASE)
+
+        local_boundary_connections = {}
+        for i_remote_part in connected_parts:
+            local_boundary_connections[i_remote_part] = \
+                    get_connection_to_rank_boundary(i_remote_part)
+
+        from meshmode.distributed import MPIBoundaryCommSetupHelper
+        with MPIBoundaryCommSetupHelper(mpi_communicator, array_context,
+                local_boundary_connections, grp_factory) as bdry_setup_helper:
+            while True:
+                conns = bdry_setup_helper.complete_some()
+                if not conns:
+                    break
+                for i_remote_part, conn in conns.items():
+                    boundary_connections[i_remote_part] = conn
+
+    return boundary_connections
+
+# }}}
+
+
 def _generate_modal_group_factory(nodal_group_factory):
     from meshmode.discretization.poly_element import (
         ModalSimplexGroupFactory,
diff --git a/grudge/dof_desc.py b/grudge/dof_desc.py
index 621f245e7..aba344198 100644
--- a/grudge/dof_desc.py
+++ b/grudge/dof_desc.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 THE SOFTWARE.
 """
 
+from typing import Hashable
 from meshmode.discretization.connection import \
     FACE_RESTR_INTERIOR, FACE_RESTR_ALL
 from meshmode.mesh import \
@@ -53,6 +54,9 @@
 
 # {{{ DOF description
 
+DiscretizationTag = Hashable
+
+
 class DTAG_SCALAR:  # noqa: N801
     """A domain tag denoting scalar values."""