diff --git a/nemo/lightning/pytorch/callbacks/nsys.py b/nemo/lightning/pytorch/callbacks/nsys.py
index 2a6bc3668b94..13b059011426 100644
--- a/nemo/lightning/pytorch/callbacks/nsys.py
+++ b/nemo/lightning/pytorch/callbacks/nsys.py
@@ -21,6 +21,18 @@
 from nemo.utils.get_rank import get_rank
 
 
+def get_current_epoch_step(trainer) -> int:
+    """
+    Get the value of step within an epoch.
+    """
+    if hasattr(trainer.strategy, 'current_epoch_step'):
+        return trainer.strategy.current_epoch_step
+    return max(
+        trainer.fit_loop.epoch_loop.automatic_optimization.optim_progress.optimizer.step.current.completed,
+        trainer.fit_loop.epoch_loop.manual_optimization.optim_step_progress.current.completed,
+    )
+
+
 class NsysCallback(Callback):
     """
     A PyTorch Lightning callback for NVIDIA Nsight Systems (Nsys) profiling.
@@ -67,39 +79,41 @@ def __init__(
             f'and end_step: {self._nsys_profile_end_step}'
         )
 
+    def _rank_is_active(self, trainer):
+        # TODO(@akoumparouli): is this function cache-able?
+        from lightning.pytorch.strategies import SingleDeviceStrategy
+
+        if isinstance(trainer.strategy, SingleDeviceStrategy):
+            return True
+        if not torch.distributed.is_initialized():
+            return True
+        return get_rank() in self._nsys_profile_ranks
+
     def on_train_batch_start(self, trainer, pl_module, batch, batch_idx: int) -> Optional[int]:
         """PyTorch Lightning hook:
         https://pytorch-lightning.readthedocs.io/en/stable/common/lightning_module.html#on-train-batch-start
         We use it here to enable nsys profiling.
         """
+        if not self._rank_is_active(trainer) or trainer.strategy.root_device.type != 'cuda':
+            return
 
-        device = trainer.strategy.root_device
-        try:
-            # Not all strategies have this. e.g.:
-            #    AttributeError: 'SingleDeviceStrategy' object has no attribute 'current_epoch_step'
-            current_step = trainer.strategy.current_epoch_step
-        except AttributeError:
-            current_step = self._nsys_profile_start_step
-        if device.type == 'cuda':
-            if current_step == self._nsys_profile_start_step and get_rank() in self._nsys_profile_ranks:
-                torch.cuda.cudart().cudaProfilerStart()
-                if self._nsys_profile_gen_shape:
-                    torch.autograd.profiler.emit_nvtx(record_shapes=True).__enter__()
-                else:
-                    torch.autograd.profiler.emit_nvtx().__enter__()
+        current_step = get_current_epoch_step(trainer)
+        if current_step == self._nsys_profile_start_step:
+            torch.cuda.cudart().cudaProfilerStart()
+            if self._nsys_profile_gen_shape:
+                torch.autograd.profiler.emit_nvtx(record_shapes=True).__enter__()
+            else:
+                torch.autograd.profiler.emit_nvtx().__enter__()
 
     def on_train_batch_end(self, trainer, pl_module, outputs, batch, batch_idx: int) -> None:
         """PyTorch Lightning hook:
         https://pytorch-lightning.readthedocs.io/en/stable/common/lightning_module.html#on-train-batch-end
         We use it here to enable nsys profiling.
         """
+        if not self._rank_is_active(trainer) or trainer.strategy.root_device.type != 'cuda':
+            return
 
-        device = trainer.strategy.root_device
-        try:
-            current_step = trainer.strategy.current_epoch_step
-        except AttributeError:
-            current_step = self._nsys_profile_end_step
-        if device.type == 'cuda':
-            if current_step == self._nsys_profile_end_step and get_rank() in self._nsys_profile_ranks:
-                torch.cuda.cudart().cudaProfilerStop()
-                torch.autograd.profiler.emit_nvtx().__exit__(None, None, None)
+        current_step = get_current_epoch_step(trainer)
+        if current_step == self._nsys_profile_end_step:
+            torch.cuda.cudart().cudaProfilerStop()
+            torch.autograd.profiler.emit_nvtx().__exit__(None, None, None)