diff --git a/libensemble/gen_classes/aposmm.py b/libensemble/gen_classes/aposmm.py
index 886171821..d7622a211 100644
--- a/libensemble/gen_classes/aposmm.py
+++ b/libensemble/gen_classes/aposmm.py
@@ -130,6 +130,7 @@ def __init__(
         x_mapping = self.variables_mapping["x"]
         self.gen_specs["user"]["lb"] = np.array([vocs.variables[var].domain[0] for var in x_mapping])
         self.gen_specs["user"]["ub"] = np.array([vocs.variables[var].domain[1] for var in x_mapping])
+        self.gen_specs["user"]["do_not_produce_sample_points"] = True
 
         x_size = len(self.variables_mapping.get("x", []))
         x_on_cube_size = len(self.variables_mapping.get("x_on_cube", []))
diff --git a/libensemble/gen_funcs/persistent_aposmm.py b/libensemble/gen_funcs/persistent_aposmm.py
index 685fa4021..f2d645679 100644
--- a/libensemble/gen_funcs/persistent_aposmm.py
+++ b/libensemble/gen_funcs/persistent_aposmm.py
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ def aposmm(H, persis_info, gen_specs, libE_info):
             fields_to_pass,
         ) = initialize_children(user_specs)
 
-        if user_specs["initial_sample_size"] != 0:
+        if user_specs["initial_sample_size"] != 0 and not user_specs.get("do_not_produce_sample_points", True):
             # Send our initial sample. We don't need to check that n_s is large enough:
             # the alloc_func only returns when the initial sample has function values.
             persis_info = add_k_sample_points_to_local_H(