diff --git a/shark/iree_utils/compile_utils.py b/shark/iree_utils/compile_utils.py
index 78ee1ca6d5..ddb015ca50 100644
--- a/shark/iree_utils/compile_utils.py
+++ b/shark/iree_utils/compile_utils.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 import iree.runtime as ireert
 import iree.compiler as ireec
 from shark.iree_utils._common import iree_device_map, iree_target_map
+from shark.iree_utils.cpu_utils import get_iree_cpu_rt_args
 from shark.iree_utils.benchmark_utils import *
 from shark.parser import shark_args
 import numpy as np
@@ -345,6 +346,12 @@ def load_vmfb_using_mmap(
             haldriver.query_available_devices()[device_idx]["device_id"],
             allocators=shark_args.device_allocator,
         )
+        if "local_task" in device:
+            print(
+                f"[DEBUG] setting iree runtime flags for cpu.\n{' '.join(get_iree_cpu_rt_args())}"
+            )
+            for flag in get_iree_cpu_rt_args():
+                ireert.flags.parse_flags(flag)
         config = ireert.Config(device=haldevice)
     else:
         config = get_iree_runtime_config(device)
diff --git a/shark/iree_utils/cpu_utils.py b/shark/iree_utils/cpu_utils.py
index 38c294db27..f553c92c17 100644
--- a/shark/iree_utils/cpu_utils.py
+++ b/shark/iree_utils/cpu_utils.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 import subprocess
 import platform
+from shark.parser import shark_args
 
 
 def get_cpu_count():
@@ -44,4 +45,16 @@ def get_iree_cpu_args():
         error_message = f"OS Type f{os_name} not supported and triple can't be determined, open issue to dSHARK team please :)"
         raise Exception(error_message)
     print(f"Target triple found:{target_triple}")
-    return [f"--iree-llvmcpu-target-triple={target_triple}"]
+    return [
+        f"--iree-llvmcpu-target-triple={target_triple}",
+    ]
+
+
+# Get iree runtime flags for cpu
+def get_iree_cpu_rt_args():
+    cpu_count = (
+        get_cpu_count()
+        if shark_args.task_topology_max_group_count is None
+        else shark_args.task_topology_max_group_count
+    )
+    return [f"--task_topology_max_group_count={cpu_count}"]
diff --git a/shark/parser.py b/shark/parser.py
index 47cc1a86df..7c51290ecf 100644
--- a/shark/parser.py
+++ b/shark/parser.py
@@ -119,5 +119,11 @@
     "to augment the base device allocator",
     choices=["debug", "caching"],
 )
+parser.add_argument(
+    "--task_topology_max_group_count",
+    type=str,
+    default=None,
+    help="passthrough flag for the iree flag of the same name. If None, defaults to cpu-count",
+)
 
 shark_args, unknown = parser.parse_known_args()