diff --git a/libensemble/gen_funcs/persistent_sampling.py b/libensemble/gen_funcs/persistent_sampling.py
index 401ccdaa9..7408d4179 100644
--- a/libensemble/gen_funcs/persistent_sampling.py
+++ b/libensemble/gen_funcs/persistent_sampling.py
@@ -48,15 +48,14 @@ def persistent_uniform(_, persis_info, gen_specs, libE_info):
     ps = PersistentSupport(libE_info, EVAL_GEN_TAG)
 
     # Send batches until manager sends stop tag
-    tag = None
-    while tag not in [STOP_TAG, PERSIS_STOP]:
+    while not ps.instructed_to_exit():
         H_o = np.zeros(b, dtype=gen_specs["out"])
         H_o["x"] = persis_info["rand_stream"].uniform(lb, ub, (b, n))
         if "obj_component" in H_o.dtype.fields:
             H_o["obj_component"] = persis_info["rand_stream"].integers(
                 low=0, high=gen_specs["user"]["num_components"], size=b
             )
-        tag, Work, calc_in = ps.send_recv(H_o)
+        calc_in = ps.send_recv(H_o)
         if hasattr(calc_in, "__len__"):
             b = len(calc_in)
 
@@ -229,14 +228,13 @@ def batched_history_matching(_, persis_info, gen_specs, libE_info):
 
     mu = np.zeros(n)
     Sigma = np.eye(n)
-    tag = None
 
-    while tag not in [STOP_TAG, PERSIS_STOP]:
+    while not ps.instructed_to_exit():
         H_o = np.zeros(b, dtype=gen_specs["out"])
         H_o["x"] = persis_info["rand_stream"].multivariate_normal(mu, Sigma, b)
 
         # Send data and get next assignment
-        tag, Work, calc_in = ps.send_recv(H_o)
+        calc_in = ps.send_recv(H_o)
         if calc_in is not None:
             all_inds = np.argsort(calc_in["f"])
             best_inds = all_inds[:q]
diff --git a/libensemble/tools/persistent_support.py b/libensemble/tools/persistent_support.py
index dca7d37ca..16606be6f 100644
--- a/libensemble/tools/persistent_support.py
+++ b/libensemble/tools/persistent_support.py
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ def __init__(self, libE_info: Dict[str, Dict[Any, Any]], calc_type: int) -> None
             EVAL_SIM_TAG,
         ], f"The calc_type: {self.calc_type} specifies neither a simulator nor generator."
         self.calc_str = calc_type_strings[self.calc_type]
+        self.tag = None
 
     def send(self, output: npt.NDArray, calc_status: int = UNSET_TAG, keep_state=False) -> None:
         """
@@ -79,7 +80,8 @@ def recv(self, blocking: bool = True) -> (int, dict, npt.NDArray):
             logger.debug(f"Persistent {self.calc_str} received signal {tag} from manager")
             if not isinstance(Work, dict):
                 self.comm.push_to_buffer(tag, Work)
-                return tag, Work, None
+                self.tag = tag
+                return None
         else:
             logger.debug(f"Persistent {self.calc_str} received work request from manager")
 
@@ -100,7 +102,9 @@ def recv(self, blocking: bool = True) -> (int, dict, npt.NDArray):
             return data_tag, calc_in, None  # calc_in is signal identifier
 
         logger.debug(f"Persistent {self.calc_str} received work rows from manager")
-        return tag, Work, calc_in
+        self.last_H_rows = Work["libE_info"]["H_rows"]
+        self.tag = tag
+        return calc_in
 
     def send_recv(self, output: npt.NDArray, calc_status: int = UNSET_TAG) -> (int, dict, npt.NDArray):
         """
@@ -115,6 +119,9 @@ def send_recv(self, output: npt.NDArray, calc_status: int = UNSET_TAG) -> (int,
         self.send(output, calc_status)
         return self.recv()
 
+    def instructed_to_exit(self) -> bool:
+        return self.tag in [STOP_TAG, PERSIS_STOP]
+
     def request_cancel_sim_ids(self, sim_ids: List[int]):
         """Request cancellation of sim_ids.