diff --git a/examples/mlperf/model_train.py b/examples/mlperf/model_train.py
index 9d149a0135..17859b7b0b 100644
--- a/examples/mlperf/model_train.py
+++ b/examples/mlperf/model_train.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import os, time, math, functools, random
+import os, time, math, functools, random, contextlib
 from pathlib import Path
 import multiprocessing
 
@@ -1281,9 +1281,15 @@ def train_maskrcnn():
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
   multiprocessing.set_start_method('spawn')
+
+  if getenv("INITMLPERF"): bench_log_manager = WallTimeEvent(BenchEvent.MLPERF_INIT)
+  elif getenv("RUNMLPERF"): bench_log_manager = WallTimeEvent(BenchEvent.MLPERF_RUN)
+  else: bench_log_manager = contextlib.nullcontext()
+
   with Tensor.train():
     for m in getenv("MODEL", "resnet,retinanet,unet3d,rnnt,bert,maskrcnn").split(","):
       nm = f"train_{m}"
       if nm in globals():
         print(f"training {m}")
-        with Profiling(enabled=getenv("PYPROFILE")): globals()[nm]()
+        with bench_log_manager:
+          with Profiling(enabled=getenv("PYPROFILE")): globals()[nm]()
diff --git a/extra/bench_log.py b/extra/bench_log.py
index 8294bdfc2b..72a23fe13e 100644
--- a/extra/bench_log.py
+++ b/extra/bench_log.py
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ class BenchEvent(Enum):
   LOAD_WEIGHTS = "load_weights"
   STEP = "step"
   FULL = "full"
+  MLPERF_INIT = "mlperf_init"
+  MLPERF_RUN = "mlperf_setup"
 class InstantBenchEvent(Enum):
   GFLOPS = "gflops"