diff --git a/src/checkpoint/checkpoint.h b/src/checkpoint/checkpoint.h
index 4b3f6fcd..1ffdc125 100644
--- a/src/checkpoint/checkpoint.h
+++ b/src/checkpoint/checkpoint.h
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@
 #include "checkpoint/container/function_serialize.h"
 #include "checkpoint/container/list_serialize.h"
 #include "checkpoint/container/map_serialize.h"
+#include "checkpoint/container/ompi_serialize.h"
 #include "checkpoint/container/queue_serialize.h"
 #include "checkpoint/container/raw_ptr_serialize.h"
 #include "checkpoint/container/shared_ptr_serialize.h"
diff --git a/src/checkpoint/container/ompi_serialize.h b/src/checkpoint/container/ompi_serialize.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..aa4ff3f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/checkpoint/container/ompi_serialize.h
@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+/*
+//@HEADER
+// *****************************************************************************
+//
+//                              ompi_serialize.h
+//                           DARMA Toolkit v. 1.0.0
+//                 DARMA/checkpoint => Serialization Library
+//
+// Copyright 2020 National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
+// (NTESS). Under the terms of Contract DE-NA0003525 with NTESS, the U.S.
+// Government retains certain rights in this software.
+//
+// Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+// modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+//
+// * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice,
+//   this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+//
+// * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice,
+//   this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation
+//   and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+//
+// * Neither the name of the copyright holder nor the names of its
+//   contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this
+//   software without specific prior written permission.
+//
+// THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
+// AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
+// IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
+// ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE
+// LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR
+// CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF
+// SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS
+// INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN
+// CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE)
+// ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
+// POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+//
+// Questions? Contact darma@sandia.gov
+//
+// *****************************************************************************
+//@HEADER
+*/
+
+#if !defined INCLUDED_CHECKPOINT_CONTAINER_OMPI_SERIALIZE_H
+#define INCLUDED_CHECKPOINT_CONTAINER_OMPI_SERIALIZE_H
+
+#include "checkpoint/common.h"
+
+struct ompi_communicator_t;
+struct ompi_group_t;
+struct ompi_request_t;
+struct ompi_win_t;
+
+namespace checkpoint {
+
+/**
+ * Simplified footprinting is supported for certain Open MPI structures to avoid
+ * workarounds in application code.
+ */
+
+template <
+  typename SerializerT,
+  typename = std::enable_if_t<
+    std::is_same<
+      SerializerT,
+      checkpoint::Footprinter
+    >::value
+  >
+>
+void serialize(SerializerT& s, ompi_communicator_t* req) {
+  s.countBytes(req);
+}
+
+template <
+  typename SerializerT,
+  typename = std::enable_if_t<
+    std::is_same<
+      SerializerT,
+      checkpoint::Footprinter
+    >::value
+  >
+>
+void serialize(SerializerT& s, ompi_group_t* req) {
+  s.countBytes(req);
+}
+
+template <
+  typename SerializerT,
+  typename = std::enable_if_t<
+    std::is_same<
+      SerializerT,
+      checkpoint::Footprinter
+    >::value
+  >
+>
+void serialize(SerializerT& s, ompi_request_t* req) {
+  s.countBytes(req);
+}
+
+template <
+  typename SerializerT,
+  typename = std::enable_if_t<
+    std::is_same<
+      SerializerT,
+      checkpoint::Footprinter
+    >::value
+  >
+>
+void serialize(SerializerT& s, ompi_win_t* req) {
+  s.countBytes(req);
+}
+
+} /* end namespace checkpoint */
+
+#endif /*INCLUDED_CHECKPOINT_CONTAINER_OMPI_SERIALIZE_H*/
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_footprinter.cc b/tests/unit/test_footprinter.cc
index 5bae4858..754ea8e6 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_footprinter.cc
+++ b/tests/unit/test_footprinter.cc
@@ -50,6 +50,11 @@
 #include <thread>
 #include <checkpoint/checkpoint.h>
 
+struct ompi_communicator_t;
+struct ompi_group_t;
+struct ompi_request_t;
+struct ompi_win_t;
+
 namespace checkpoint { namespace tests { namespace unit {
 
 struct TestFootprinter : TestHarness { };
@@ -543,4 +548,42 @@ TEST_F(TestFootprinter, test_virtual_serialize) {
   }
 }
 
+TEST_F(TestFootprinter, test_ompi) {
+  {
+    std::vector<ompi_communicator_t*> v(3);
+
+    EXPECT_EQ(
+      checkpoint::getMemoryFootprint(v),
+      sizeof(v) + v.capacity() * sizeof(ompi_communicator_t*)
+    );
+  }
+
+  {
+    std::vector<ompi_group_t*> v(5);
+
+    EXPECT_EQ(
+      checkpoint::getMemoryFootprint(v),
+      sizeof(v) + v.capacity() * sizeof(ompi_group_t*)
+    );
+  }
+
+  {
+    std::vector<ompi_request_t*> v(7);
+
+    EXPECT_EQ(
+      checkpoint::getMemoryFootprint(v),
+      sizeof(v) + v.capacity() * sizeof(ompi_request_t*)
+    );
+  }
+
+  {
+    std::vector<ompi_win_t*> v(9);
+
+    EXPECT_EQ(
+      checkpoint::getMemoryFootprint(v),
+      sizeof(v) + v.capacity() * sizeof(ompi_win_t*)
+    );
+  }
+}
+
 }}} // end namespace checkpoint::tests::unit