diff --git a/benches/Cargo.toml b/benches/Cargo.toml
index 1447d12c9..e3e58ed89 100644
--- a/benches/Cargo.toml
+++ b/benches/Cargo.toml
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ publish = false
 
 [features]
 _single_precision = []
+profiling = []
 
 # deps
 
diff --git a/benches/src/cut_edges.rs b/benches/src/cut_edges.rs
index c9a76c2e4..3a8e65f0d 100644
--- a/benches/src/cut_edges.rs
+++ b/benches/src/cut_edges.rs
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ use honeycomb::{
     prelude::{CMap2, CMapBuilder, CoordsFloat, DartIdType, EdgeIdType},
 };
 
-use crate::{cli::CutEdgesArgs, utils::hash_file};
+use crate::{cli::CutEdgesArgs, prof_start, prof_stop, utils::hash_file};
 
 // const MAX_RETRY: u8 = 10;
 
@@ -64,8 +64,10 @@ pub fn bench_cut_edges<T: CoordsFloat>(args: CutEdgesArgs) -> CMap2<T> {
 
     let mut step = 0;
     print!(" {step:>4} "); // Step
+    prof_start!("HCBENCH_CUTS");
 
     // compute first batch
+    prof_start!("HCBENCH_CUTS_COMPUTE");
     instant = Instant::now();
     let mut edges: Vec<EdgeIdType> = map.iter_edges().collect();
     print!("| {:>12} ", edges.len()); // n_edge_total
@@ -83,11 +85,13 @@ pub fn bench_cut_edges<T: CoordsFloat>(args: CutEdgesArgs) -> CMap2<T> {
     print!("| {n_e:>17} "); // n_edge_to_process
     let mut nd = map.add_free_darts(6 * n_e); // 2 for edge split + 2*2 for new edges in neighbor tets
     let mut darts: Vec<DartIdType> = (nd..nd + 6 * n_e as DartIdType).collect();
+    prof_stop!("HCBENCH_CUTS_COMPUTE");
     print!("| {:>18.6e} ", instant.elapsed().as_secs_f64()); // t_compute_batch
 
     // while there are edges to cut
     while !edges.is_empty() {
         // process batch
+        prof_start!("HCBENCH_CUTS_PROCESS");
         instant = Instant::now();
         let n_retry = match args.backend {
             crate::cli::Backend::RayonIter => dispatch_rayon(&map, &mut edges, &darts),
@@ -98,6 +102,7 @@ pub fn bench_cut_edges<T: CoordsFloat>(args: CutEdgesArgs) -> CMap2<T> {
                 dispatch_std_threads(&map, &mut edges, &darts, n_threads)
             }
         };
+        prof_stop!("HCBENCH_CUTS_PROCESS");
         print!("| {:>18.6e} ", instant.elapsed().as_secs_f64()); // t_process_batch
         println!("| {n_retry:>15}",); // n_transac_retry
 
@@ -110,6 +115,7 @@ pub fn bench_cut_edges<T: CoordsFloat>(args: CutEdgesArgs) -> CMap2<T> {
         // compute the new batch
         step += 1;
         print!(" {step:>4} "); // Step
+        prof_start!("HCBENCH_CUTS_COMPUTE");
         instant = Instant::now();
         edges.extend(map.iter_edges());
         print!("| {:>12} ", edges.len()); // n_edge_total
@@ -128,6 +134,7 @@ pub fn bench_cut_edges<T: CoordsFloat>(args: CutEdgesArgs) -> CMap2<T> {
         nd = map.add_free_darts(6 * n_e);
         darts.par_drain(..); // is there a better way?
         darts.extend(nd..nd + 6 * n_e as DartIdType);
+        prof_stop!("HCBENCH_CUTS_COMPUTE");
         if n_e != 0 {
             print!("| {:>18.6e} ", instant.elapsed().as_secs_f64()); // t_compute_batch
         } else {
@@ -136,6 +143,7 @@ pub fn bench_cut_edges<T: CoordsFloat>(args: CutEdgesArgs) -> CMap2<T> {
             println!("| {:>15}", 0); // n_transac_retry
         }
     }
+    prof_stop!("HCBENCH_CUTS");
 
     map
 }
diff --git a/benches/src/main.rs b/benches/src/main.rs
index 205c2b31e..2e308b2f0 100644
--- a/benches/src/main.rs
+++ b/benches/src/main.rs
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ use honeycomb_benches::{
     cut_edges::bench_cut_edges,
     grid_gen::bench_generate_2d_grid,
     grisubal::bench_grisubal,
+    prof_init, prof_start, prof_stop,
     remesh::bench_remesh,
     shift::bench_shift,
 };
@@ -23,6 +24,9 @@ fn main() {
 }
 
 fn run_benchmarks<T: CoordsFloat>(cli: Cli) {
+    prof_init!();
+
+    prof_start!("HCBENCH");
     let map: CMap2<T> = match cli.benches {
         Benches::Generate2dGrid(args) => bench_generate_2d_grid(args),
         Benches::CutEdges(args) => bench_cut_edges(args),
@@ -30,6 +34,8 @@ fn run_benchmarks<T: CoordsFloat>(cli: Cli) {
         Benches::Remesh(args) => bench_remesh(args),
         Benches::Shift(args) => bench_shift(args),
     };
+    prof_stop!("HCBENCH");
+
     // all bench currently generate a map,
     // we may have to move this to match arms if this changes
     if let Some(f) = cli.save_as {
diff --git a/benches/src/remesh.rs b/benches/src/remesh.rs
index 6c4b502fe..e506296e3 100644
--- a/benches/src/remesh.rs
+++ b/benches/src/remesh.rs
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ use honeycomb::{
     stm::{StmClosureResult, Transaction, abort, atomically, atomically_with_err, retry},
 };
 
-use crate::{cli::RemeshArgs, utils::hash_file};
+use crate::{cli::RemeshArgs, prof_start, prof_stop, utils::hash_file};
 
 pub fn bench_remesh<T: CoordsFloat>(args: RemeshArgs) -> CMap2<T> {
     let input_map = args.input.to_str().unwrap();
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ pub fn bench_remesh<T: CoordsFloat>(args: RemeshArgs) -> CMap2<T> {
 
     // -- triangulation
     instant = Instant::now();
+    prof_start!("HCBENCH_REMESH_TRIANGULATION");
     let n_tot = map
         .iter_faces()
         .map(|id| (map.orbit(OrbitPolicy::Face, id as DartIdType).count() - 3) * 2)
@@ -96,6 +97,7 @@ pub fn bench_remesh<T: CoordsFloat>(args: RemeshArgs) -> CMap2<T> {
             }
         });
     let triangulation_time = instant.elapsed();
+    prof_stop!("HCBENCH_REMESH_TRIANGULATION");
 
     // check that the mesh is triangular, consistently oriented and fully classified
     debug_assert!(
@@ -145,12 +147,14 @@ pub fn bench_remesh<T: CoordsFloat>(args: RemeshArgs) -> CMap2<T> {
     // b. cut / collapse
     // c. swap
     // check for ending condition after each relax
+    prof_start!("HCBENCH_REMESH_MAINLOOP");
     let mut n = 0;
     let mut r;
     loop {
         print!("{:>5}", n);
 
         // -- relax
+        prof_start!("HCBENCH_REMESH_RELAX");
         instant = Instant::now();
         r = 0;
         loop {
@@ -182,6 +186,7 @@ pub fn bench_remesh<T: CoordsFloat>(args: RemeshArgs) -> CMap2<T> {
                 break;
             }
         }
+        prof_stop!("HCBENCH_REMESH_RELAX");
         print!(" | {:>14.6e}", instant.elapsed().as_secs_f64());
 
         debug_assert!(
@@ -228,6 +233,7 @@ pub fn bench_remesh<T: CoordsFloat>(args: RemeshArgs) -> CMap2<T> {
         print!(" | {:>17.6e}", instant.elapsed().as_secs_f64());
 
         // -- cut / collapse
+        prof_start!("HCBENCH_REMESH_CC");
         instant = Instant::now();
         for e in edges_to_process {
             if map.is_unused(e as DartIdType) {
@@ -308,9 +314,11 @@ pub fn bench_remesh<T: CoordsFloat>(args: RemeshArgs) -> CMap2<T> {
                 }
             }
         }
+        prof_stop!("HCBENCH_REMESH_CC");
         print!(" | {:>16.6e}", instant.elapsed().as_secs_f64());
 
         // -- swap
+        prof_start!("HCBENCH_REMESH_SWAP");
         instant = Instant::now();
         for (e, diff) in map
             .iter_edges()
@@ -367,6 +375,7 @@ pub fn bench_remesh<T: CoordsFloat>(args: RemeshArgs) -> CMap2<T> {
                 );
             }
         }
+        prof_stop!("HCBENCH_REMESH_SWAP");
         println!(" | {:>8.6e}", instant.elapsed().as_secs_f64());
 
         debug_assert!(map.iter_faces().all(|f| {
@@ -379,6 +388,7 @@ pub fn bench_remesh<T: CoordsFloat>(args: RemeshArgs) -> CMap2<T> {
             break;
         }
     }
+    prof_stop!("HCBENCH_REMESH_MAINLOOP");
 
     debug_assert!(map.iter_faces().all(|f| {
         map.orbit(OrbitPolicy::FaceLinear, f).count() == 3
diff --git a/benches/src/shift.rs b/benches/src/shift.rs
index 57f5badf0..7ad191d56 100644
--- a/benches/src/shift.rs
+++ b/benches/src/shift.rs
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ use honeycomb::prelude::{
 
 use crate::cli::ShiftArgs;
 use crate::utils::hash_file;
+use crate::{prof_start, prof_stop};
 
 pub fn bench_shift<T: CoordsFloat>(args: ShiftArgs) -> CMap2<T> {
     let mut instant = std::time::Instant::now();
@@ -45,6 +46,7 @@ pub fn bench_shift<T: CoordsFloat>(args: ShiftArgs) -> CMap2<T> {
     };
     let build_time = instant.elapsed();
 
+    prof_start!("HCBENCH_SHIFT");
     if args.no_conflict {
         todo!("TODO: require a partitioning algorithm")
     } else {
@@ -117,6 +119,7 @@ pub fn bench_shift<T: CoordsFloat>(args: ShiftArgs) -> CMap2<T> {
             }
         }
     }
+    prof_stop!("HCBENCH_SHIFT");
 
     map
 }
diff --git a/benches/src/utils.rs b/benches/src/utils.rs
index 376e88241..88a5ad5f2 100644
--- a/benches/src/utils.rs
+++ b/benches/src/utils.rs
@@ -32,3 +32,72 @@ pub fn hash_file(path: &str) -> Result<u64, std::io::Error> {
 
     Ok(hasher.finish())
 }
+
+#[cfg(feature = "profiling")]
+pub static mut PERF_FIFO: Option<File> = None;
+
+/// Attempt to open a fifo at the path `/tmp/hc_perf_control`.
+///
+/// This macro doesn't generate any code if the `profiling` feature is disabled.
+#[macro_export]
+macro_rules! prof_init {
+    () => {
+        #[cfg(feature = "profiling")]
+        {
+            unsafe {
+                $crate::utils::PERF_FIFO = Some(
+                    std::fs::OpenOptions::new()
+                        .write(true)
+                        .open("/tmp/hc_perf_control")
+                        .expect("Failed to open FIFO"),
+                );
+            }
+        }
+    };
+}
+
+/// Write to the `/tmp/hc_perf_control` to enable perf sampling if `${$var}` is defined.
+///
+/// This macro doesn't generate any code if the `profiling` feature is disabled.
+#[macro_export]
+macro_rules! prof_start {
+    ($var: literal) => {
+        #[cfg(feature = "profiling")]
+        {
+            // use an env variable to select profiled section
+            if std::env::var_os($var).is_some() {
+                use std::io::Write;
+                unsafe {
+                    if let Some(ref mut f) = $crate::utils::PERF_FIFO {
+                        f.write_all(b"enable\n")
+                            .expect("E: failed to write to FIFO");
+                        f.flush().expect("E: failed to flush FIFO");
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    };
+}
+
+/// Write to the `/tmp/hc_perf_control` to disable perf sampling if `${$var}` is defined.
+///
+/// This macro doesn't generate any code if the `profiling` feature is disabled.
+#[macro_export]
+macro_rules! prof_stop {
+    ($var: literal) => {
+        #[cfg(feature = "profiling")]
+        {
+            // use an env variable to select profiled section
+            if std::env::var_os($var).is_some() {
+                use std::io::Write;
+                unsafe {
+                    if let Some(ref mut f) = $crate::utils::PERF_FIFO {
+                        f.write_all(b"disable\n")
+                            .expect("E: failed to write to FIFO");
+                        f.flush().expect("E: failed to flush FIFO");
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    };
+}