diff --git a/src/Net.cc b/src/Net.cc
index adac9c02fd..3acd4bce9d 100644
--- a/src/Net.cc
+++ b/src/Net.cc
@@ -34,6 +34,10 @@
 #include "iosource/PktDumper.h"
 #include "plugin/Manager.h"
 
+#ifdef ENABLE_BROKER
+#include "comm/Manager.h"
+#endif
+
 extern "C" {
 #include "setsignal.h"
 };
@@ -315,6 +319,11 @@ void net_run()
 			}
 #endif
 		current_iosrc = src;
+		bool communication_enabled = using_communication;
+
+#ifdef ENABLE_BROKER
+		communication_enabled |= comm_mgr->Enabled();
+#endif
 
 		if ( src )
 			src->Process();	// which will call net_packet_dispatch()
@@ -332,7 +341,7 @@ void net_run()
 				}
 			}
 
-		else if ( (have_pending_timers || using_communication) &&
+		else if ( (have_pending_timers || communication_enabled) &&
 			  ! pseudo_realtime )
 			{
 			// Take advantage of the lull to get up to
@@ -347,7 +356,7 @@ void net_run()
 			// us a lot of idle time, but doesn't delay near-term
 			// timers too much.  (Delaying them somewhat is okay,
 			// since Bro timers are not high-precision anyway.)
-			if ( ! using_communication )
+			if ( ! communication_enabled )
 				usleep(100000);
 			else
 				usleep(1000);
diff --git a/src/comm/CMakeLists.txt b/src/comm/CMakeLists.txt
index 6453e006bf..ef41c605c7 100644
--- a/src/comm/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/comm/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ set(comm_SRCS
     Store.cc
 )
 
+bif_target(comm.bif)
 bif_target(data.bif)
 bif_target(messaging.bif)
 bif_target(store.bif)
diff --git a/src/comm/Manager.cc b/src/comm/Manager.cc
index 443c5f90da..7db80ebb40 100644
--- a/src/comm/Manager.cc
+++ b/src/comm/Manager.cc
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #include "comm/store.bif.h"
 #include "logging/Manager.h"
 #include "DebugLogger.h"
+#include "iosource/Manager.h"
 
 using namespace std;
 
@@ -28,11 +29,6 @@ comm::Manager::~Manager()
 		CloseStore(s.first.first, s.first.second);
 	}
 
-bool comm::Manager::InitPreScript()
-	{
-	return true;
-	}
-
 static int require_field(RecordType* rt, const char* name)
 	{
 	auto rval = rt->FieldOffset(name);
@@ -44,8 +40,11 @@ static int require_field(RecordType* rt, const char* name)
 	return rval;
 	}
 
-bool comm::Manager::InitPostScript()
+bool comm::Manager::Enable()
 	{
+	if ( endpoint != nullptr )
+		return true;
+
 	auto send_flags_type = internal_type("Comm::SendFlags")->AsRecordType();
 	send_flags_self_idx = require_field(send_flags_type, "self");
 	send_flags_peers_idx = require_field(send_flags_type, "peers");
@@ -94,11 +93,15 @@ bool comm::Manager::InitPostScript()
 		}
 
 	endpoint = unique_ptr<broker::endpoint>(new broker::endpoint(name));
+	iosource_mgr->Register(this, true);
 	return true;
 	}
 
 bool comm::Manager::Listen(uint16_t port, const char* addr, bool reuse_addr)
 	{
+	if ( ! Enabled() )
+		return false;
+
 	auto rval = endpoint->listen(port, addr, reuse_addr);
 
 	if ( ! rval )
@@ -114,6 +117,9 @@ bool comm::Manager::Listen(uint16_t port, const char* addr, bool reuse_addr)
 bool comm::Manager::Connect(string addr, uint16_t port,
                             chrono::duration<double> retry_interval)
 	{
+	if ( ! Enabled() )
+		return false;
+
 	auto& peer = peers[make_pair(addr, port)];
 
 	if ( peer )
@@ -125,6 +131,9 @@ bool comm::Manager::Connect(string addr, uint16_t port,
 
 bool comm::Manager::Disconnect(const string& addr, uint16_t port)
 	{
+	if ( ! Enabled() )
+		return false;
+
 	auto it = peers.find(make_pair(addr, port));
 
 	if ( it == peers.end() )
@@ -137,18 +146,27 @@ bool comm::Manager::Disconnect(const string& addr, uint16_t port)
 
 bool comm::Manager::Print(string topic, string msg, Val* flags)
 	{
+	if ( ! Enabled() )
+		return false;
+
 	endpoint->send(move(topic), broker::message{move(msg)}, GetFlags(flags));
 	return true;
 	}
 
 bool comm::Manager::Event(std::string topic, broker::message msg, int flags)
 	{
+	if ( ! Enabled() )
+		return false;
+
 	endpoint->send(move(topic), move(msg), flags);
 	return true;
 	}
 
 bool comm::Manager::Log(EnumVal* stream, RecordVal* columns, int flags)
 	{
+	if ( ! Enabled() )
+		return false;
+
 	auto stream_name = stream->Type()->AsEnumType()->Lookup(stream->AsEnum());
 
 	if ( ! stream_name )
@@ -176,6 +194,9 @@ bool comm::Manager::Log(EnumVal* stream, RecordVal* columns, int flags)
 
 bool comm::Manager::Event(std::string topic, RecordVal* args, Val* flags)
 	{
+	if ( ! Enabled() )
+		return false;
+
 	if ( ! args->Lookup(0) )
 		return false;
 
@@ -198,6 +219,9 @@ bool comm::Manager::Event(std::string topic, RecordVal* args, Val* flags)
 
 bool comm::Manager::AutoEvent(string topic, Val* event, Val* flags)
 	{
+	if ( ! Enabled() )
+		return false;
+
 	if ( event->Type()->Tag() != TYPE_FUNC )
 		{
 		reporter->Error("Comm::auto_event must operate on an event");
@@ -227,6 +251,9 @@ bool comm::Manager::AutoEvent(string topic, Val* event, Val* flags)
 
 bool comm::Manager::AutoEventStop(const string& topic, Val* event)
 	{
+	if ( ! Enabled() )
+		return false;
+
 	if ( event->Type()->Tag() != TYPE_FUNC )
 		{
 		reporter->Error("Comm::auto_event_stop must operate on an event");
@@ -257,6 +284,9 @@ bool comm::Manager::AutoEventStop(const string& topic, Val* event)
 
 RecordVal* comm::Manager::MakeEventArgs(val_list* args)
 	{
+	if ( ! Enabled() )
+		return nullptr;
+
 	auto rval = new RecordVal(BifType::Record::Comm::EventArgs);
 	auto arg_vec = new VectorVal(vector_of_data_type);
 	rval->Assign(1, arg_vec);
@@ -324,6 +354,9 @@ RecordVal* comm::Manager::MakeEventArgs(val_list* args)
 
 bool comm::Manager::SubscribeToPrints(string topic_prefix)
 	{
+	if ( ! Enabled() )
+		return false;
+
 	auto& q = print_subscriptions[topic_prefix];
 
 	if ( q )
@@ -335,11 +368,17 @@ bool comm::Manager::SubscribeToPrints(string topic_prefix)
 
 bool comm::Manager::UnsubscribeToPrints(const string& topic_prefix)
 	{
+	if ( ! Enabled() )
+		return false;
+
 	return print_subscriptions.erase(topic_prefix);
 	}
 
 bool comm::Manager::SubscribeToEvents(string topic_prefix)
 	{
+	if ( ! Enabled() )
+		return false;
+
 	auto& q = event_subscriptions[topic_prefix];
 
 	if ( q )
@@ -351,11 +390,17 @@ bool comm::Manager::SubscribeToEvents(string topic_prefix)
 
 bool comm::Manager::UnsubscribeToEvents(const string& topic_prefix)
 	{
+	if ( ! Enabled() )
+		return false;
+
 	return event_subscriptions.erase(topic_prefix);
 	}
 
 bool comm::Manager::SubscribeToLogs(string topic_prefix)
 	{
+	if ( ! Enabled() )
+		return false;
+
 	auto& q = log_subscriptions[topic_prefix];
 
 	if ( q )
@@ -367,6 +412,9 @@ bool comm::Manager::SubscribeToLogs(string topic_prefix)
 
 bool comm::Manager::UnsubscribeToLogs(const string& topic_prefix)
 	{
+	if ( ! Enabled() )
+		return false;
+
 	return log_subscriptions.erase(topic_prefix);
 	}
 
@@ -797,6 +845,9 @@ void comm::Manager::Process()
 
 bool comm::Manager::AddStore(StoreHandleVal* handle)
 	{
+	if ( ! Enabled() )
+		return false;
+
 	if ( ! handle->store )
 		return false;
 
@@ -814,6 +865,9 @@ comm::StoreHandleVal*
 comm::Manager::LookupStore(const broker::store::identifier& id,
                            comm::StoreType type)
 	{
+	if ( ! Enabled() )
+		return nullptr;
+
 	auto key = make_pair(id, type);
 	auto it = data_stores.find(key);
 
@@ -826,6 +880,9 @@ comm::Manager::LookupStore(const broker::store::identifier& id,
 bool comm::Manager::CloseStore(const broker::store::identifier& id,
                                StoreType type)
 	{
+	if ( ! Enabled() )
+		return false;
+
 	auto key = make_pair(id, type);
 	auto it = data_stores.find(key);
 
@@ -854,5 +911,8 @@ bool comm::Manager::CloseStore(const broker::store::identifier& id,
 
 bool comm::Manager::TrackStoreQuery(StoreQueryCallback* cb)
 	{
+	if ( ! Enabled() )
+		return false;
+
 	return pending_queries.insert(cb).second;
 	}
diff --git a/src/comm/Manager.h b/src/comm/Manager.h
index 31fdfa56c1..2317ecea2c 100644
--- a/src/comm/Manager.h
+++ b/src/comm/Manager.h
@@ -24,9 +24,10 @@ public:
 
 	~Manager();
 
-	bool InitPreScript();
+	bool Enable();
 
-	bool InitPostScript();
+	bool Enabled()
+		{ return endpoint != nullptr; }
 
 	bool Listen(uint16_t port, const char* addr = nullptr,
 	            bool reuse_addr = true);
diff --git a/src/comm/comm.bif b/src/comm/comm.bif
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7f8d85b720
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/comm/comm.bif
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+
+##! General functions regarding Bro's broker communication mechanisms.
+
+%%{
+#include "comm/Manager.h"
+%%}
+
+module Comm;
+
+function Comm::enable%(%): bool
+	%{
+	return new Val(comm_mgr->Enable(), TYPE_BOOL);
+	%}
diff --git a/src/main.cc b/src/main.cc
index 5385ca7993..3d80833009 100644
--- a/src/main.cc
+++ b/src/main.cc
@@ -860,12 +860,6 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
 
 #ifdef ENABLE_BROKER
 	comm_mgr = new comm::Manager();
-
-	if ( ! comm_mgr->InitPreScript() )
-		{
-		fprintf(stderr, "Failed to initialize communication manager.");
-		exit(1);
-		}
 #endif
 
 	plugin_mgr->InitPreScript();
@@ -942,11 +936,6 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
 		exit(rc);
 		}
 
-#ifdef ENABLE_BROKER
-	comm_mgr->InitPostScript();
-	iosource_mgr->Register(comm_mgr, true);
-#endif
-
 #ifdef USE_PERFTOOLS_DEBUG
 	}
 #endif
diff --git a/testing/btest/comm/clone_store.bro b/testing/btest/comm/clone_store.bro
index 03e0fe172f..3ea0347024 100644
--- a/testing/btest/comm/clone_store.bro
+++ b/testing/btest/comm/clone_store.bro
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ event ready()
 
 event bro_init()
 	{
+	Comm::enable();
 	Comm::listen(9999/tcp, "127.0.0.1");
 	Comm::subscribe_to_events("bro/event/ready");
 	Comm::auto_event("bro/event/done", done);
@@ -106,6 +107,7 @@ event Comm::remote_connection_established(peer_address: string,
 
 event bro_init()
 	{
+	Comm::enable();
 	Comm::connect("127.0.0.1", 9999/tcp, 1secs);
 	Comm::auto_event("bro/event/ready", ready);
 	Comm::subscribe_to_events("bro/event/done");
diff --git a/testing/btest/comm/data.bro b/testing/btest/comm/data.bro
index 3fb9dcd86e..dfbb8fc1d7 100644
--- a/testing/btest/comm/data.bro
+++ b/testing/btest/comm/data.bro
@@ -100,6 +100,7 @@ function comm_vector_to_bro_vector(d: Comm::Data): bro_vector
 
 event bro_init()
 {
+Comm::enable();
 print Comm::data_type(Comm::data(T));
 print Comm::data_type(Comm::data(+1));
 print Comm::data_type(Comm::data(1));
diff --git a/testing/btest/comm/master_store.bro b/testing/btest/comm/master_store.bro
index 84b4ee07a1..a1cc6a8c95 100644
--- a/testing/btest/comm/master_store.bro
+++ b/testing/btest/comm/master_store.bro
@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@ function dv(d: Comm::Data): Comm::DataVector
 
 event bro_init()
 	{
+	Comm::enable();
 	local myset: set[string] = {"a", "b", "c"};
 	local myvec: vector of string = {"alpha", "beta", "gamma"};
 	h = Store::create_master("master");
diff --git a/testing/btest/comm/remote_event.test b/testing/btest/comm/remote_event.test
index 9ab9a6b224..f44ed0df10 100644
--- a/testing/btest/comm/remote_event.test
+++ b/testing/btest/comm/remote_event.test
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ global auto_event_handler: event(msg: string, c: count);
 
 event bro_init()
 	{
+	Comm::enable();
 	Comm::listen(9999/tcp, "127.0.0.1");
 	Comm::subscribe_to_events("bro/event/");
 	Comm::auto_event("bro/event/my_topic", auto_event_handler);
@@ -47,6 +48,7 @@ global auto_event_handler: event(msg: string, c: count);
 
 event bro_init()
 	{
+	Comm::enable();
 	Comm::subscribe_to_events("bro/event/my_topic");
 	Comm::connect("127.0.0.1", 9999/tcp, 1secs);
 	}
diff --git a/testing/btest/comm/remote_log.test b/testing/btest/comm/remote_log.test
index aea88cdc25..7cdc2ab97d 100644
--- a/testing/btest/comm/remote_log.test
+++ b/testing/btest/comm/remote_log.test
@@ -23,13 +23,14 @@ export {
 	};
 
 	global log_test: event(rec: Test::Info);
-
-	event bro_init() &priority=5
-		{
-		Log::create_stream(Test::LOG, [$columns=Test::Info, $ev=log_test]);
-		}
 }
 
+event bro_init() &priority=5
+	{
+	Comm::enable();
+	Log::create_stream(Test::LOG, [$columns=Test::Info, $ev=log_test]);
+	}
+
 @TEST-END-FILE
 
 @TEST-START-FILE recv.bro
diff --git a/testing/btest/comm/remote_print.test b/testing/btest/comm/remote_print.test
index 48dfd98bed..03e7517f20 100644
--- a/testing/btest/comm/remote_print.test
+++ b/testing/btest/comm/remote_print.test
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ redef exit_only_after_terminate = T;
 
 event bro_init()
 	{
+	Comm::enable();
 	Comm::listen(9999/tcp, "127.0.0.1");
 	Comm::subscribe_to_prints("bro/print/");
 	}
@@ -38,6 +39,7 @@ redef exit_only_after_terminate = T;
 
 event bro_init()
 	{
+	Comm::enable();
 	Comm::subscribe_to_prints("bro/print/my_topic");
 	Comm::connect("127.0.0.1", 9999/tcp, 1secs);
 	}