diff --git a/megatron/arguments.py b/megatron/arguments.py
index 9813d2b964..a4a452bffc 100644
--- a/megatron/arguments.py
+++ b/megatron/arguments.py
@@ -64,10 +64,6 @@ def parse_args(extra_args_provider=None, defaults={},
     args.pipeline_model_parallel_size = min(
         args.pipeline_model_parallel_size,
         (args.world_size // args.tensor_model_parallel_size))
-    if args.pipeline_model_parallel_size > 1:
-        if "ring_exchange" not in dir(torch.distributed):
-            raise Exception('PyTorch with torch.distributed.ring_exchange '
-                            'needed to run pipeline MP!')
     # Checks.
     model_parallel_size = args.pipeline_model_parallel_size * \
                           args.tensor_model_parallel_size
diff --git a/megatron/mpu/__init__.py b/megatron/mpu/__init__.py
index 5b4cc2a30b..15492da1ea 100644
--- a/megatron/mpu/__init__.py
+++ b/megatron/mpu/__init__.py
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@
 from .initialize import get_tensor_model_parallel_src_rank
 from .initialize import get_pipeline_model_parallel_first_rank
 from .initialize import get_pipeline_model_parallel_last_rank
+from .initialize import get_pipeline_model_parallel_next_rank
+from .initialize import get_pipeline_model_parallel_prev_rank
 from .initialize import get_tensor_model_parallel_world_size, set_tensor_model_parallel_world_size
 from .initialize import get_pipeline_model_parallel_world_size, set_pipeline_model_parallel_world_size
 from .initialize import initialize_model_parallel
diff --git a/megatron/mpu/initialize.py b/megatron/mpu/initialize.py
index dcd8b41f0a..9fb829bfd2 100644
--- a/megatron/mpu/initialize.py
+++ b/megatron/mpu/initialize.py
@@ -276,16 +276,30 @@ def get_tensor_model_parallel_src_rank():
     local_world_size = get_tensor_model_parallel_world_size()
     return (global_rank // local_world_size) * local_world_size
 
+def get_pipeline_model_parallel_first_rank():
+    assert _PIPELINE_GLOBAL_RANKS is not None, \
+        "Pipeline parallel group is not initialized"
+    return _PIPELINE_GLOBAL_RANKS[0]
+
 def get_pipeline_model_parallel_last_rank():
     assert _PIPELINE_GLOBAL_RANKS is not None, \
         "Pipeline parallel group is not initialized"
     last_rank_local = get_pipeline_model_parallel_world_size() - 1
     return _PIPELINE_GLOBAL_RANKS[last_rank_local]
 
-def get_pipeline_model_parallel_first_rank():
+def get_pipeline_model_parallel_next_rank():
     assert _PIPELINE_GLOBAL_RANKS is not None, \
         "Pipeline parallel group is not initialized"
-    return _PIPELINE_GLOBAL_RANKS[0]
+    rank_in_pipeline = get_pipeline_model_parallel_rank()
+    world_size = get_pipeline_model_parallel_world_size()
+    return _PIPELINE_GLOBAL_RANKS[(rank_in_pipeline + 1) % world_size]
+
+def get_pipeline_model_parallel_prev_rank():
+    assert _PIPELINE_GLOBAL_RANKS is not None, \
+        "Pipeline parallel group is not initialized"
+    rank_in_pipeline = get_pipeline_model_parallel_rank()
+    world_size = get_pipeline_model_parallel_world_size()
+    return _PIPELINE_GLOBAL_RANKS[(rank_in_pipeline - 1) % world_size]
 
 def get_data_parallel_world_size():
     """Return world size for the data parallel group."""
diff --git a/megatron/training.py b/megatron/training.py
index a3d07835a4..64384a745f 100644
--- a/megatron/training.py
+++ b/megatron/training.py
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ def setup_model_and_optimizer(model_provider_func):
 
 
 def communicate(tensor_send_next, tensor_send_prev, recv_forward, recv_backward):
-    """Communicate tensors between stages using torch.distributed.ring_exchange(.) API."""
+    """Communicate tensors between stages."""
     args = get_args()
 
     # Create placeholder tensors for receive in forward and backward directions
@@ -348,11 +348,26 @@ def communicate(tensor_send_next, tensor_send_prev, recv_forward, recv_backward)
                                        dtype=dtype)
 
     # Send tensors in both the forward and backward directions as appropriate.
-    torch.distributed.ring_exchange(tensor_send_prev=tensor_send_prev,
-                                    tensor_recv_prev=tensor_recv_prev,
-                                    tensor_send_next=tensor_send_next,
-                                    tensor_recv_next=tensor_recv_next,
-                                    group=mpu.get_pipeline_model_parallel_group())
+    ops = []
+    if tensor_send_prev is not None:
+        send_prev_op = torch.distributed.P2POp(torch.distributed.isend, tensor_send_prev,
+                                               mpu.get_pipeline_model_parallel_prev_rank())
+        ops.append(send_prev_op)
+    if tensor_recv_prev is not None:
+        recv_prev_op = torch.distributed.P2POp(torch.distributed.irecv, tensor_recv_prev,
+                                               mpu.get_pipeline_model_parallel_prev_rank())
+        ops.append(recv_prev_op)
+    if tensor_send_next is not None:
+        send_next_op = torch.distributed.P2POp(torch.distributed.isend, tensor_send_next,
+                                               mpu.get_pipeline_model_parallel_next_rank())
+        ops.append(send_next_op)
+    if tensor_recv_next is not None:
+        recv_next_op = torch.distributed.P2POp(torch.distributed.irecv, tensor_recv_next,
+                                               mpu.get_pipeline_model_parallel_next_rank())
+        ops.append(recv_next_op)
+    reqs = torch.distributed.batch_isend_irecv(ops)
+    for req in reqs:
+        req.wait()
 
     return tensor_recv_prev, tensor_recv_next