diff --git a/gprMax/config.py b/gprMax/config.py
index 648267a4..fed9d106 100644
--- a/gprMax/config.py
+++ b/gprMax/config.py
@@ -256,6 +256,11 @@ class SimulationConfig:
             ),
         }
 
+        if self.mpi and self.general["progressbars"]:
+            from mpi4py import MPI
+
+            self.general["progressbars"] = MPI.COMM_WORLD.rank == 0
+
         # Store information about host machine
         self.hostinfo = get_host_info()