diff --git a/python/lammps/pylammps.py b/python/lammps/pylammps.py
index b0eeb6c401..a6e3578aef 100644
--- a/python/lammps/pylammps.py
+++ b/python/lammps/pylammps.py
@@ -508,11 +508,6 @@ class PyLammps(object):
     :py:attr:`PyLammps.last_run`.
     """
     output = self.__getattr__('run')(*args, **kwargs)
-
-    comm = self.lmp.get_mpi_comm()
-    if comm:
-      output = self.lmp.comm.bcast(output, root=0)
-
     self.runs += get_thermo_data(output)
     return output
 
@@ -784,6 +779,10 @@ class PyLammps(object):
         self.command(cmd)
         output = capture.output
 
+      comm = self.lmp.get_mpi_comm()
+      if comm:
+        output = self.lmp.comm.bcast(output, root=0)
+
       if 'verbose' in kwargs and kwargs['verbose']:
         print(output)