diff --git a/rocclr/device/rocm/rocvirtual.cpp b/rocclr/device/rocm/rocvirtual.cpp
index 891397eed9..2315655934 100644
--- a/rocclr/device/rocm/rocvirtual.cpp
+++ b/rocclr/device/rocm/rocvirtual.cpp
@@ -451,13 +451,6 @@ bool VirtualGPU::dispatchGenericAqlPacket(
   uint64_t read = hsa_queue_load_read_index_relaxed(gpu_queue_);
   hsa_signal_t signal;
 
-  assert(header != 0);
-  if (addSystemScope_) {
-    header &= ~(HSA_FENCE_SCOPE_AGENT << HSA_PACKET_HEADER_ACQUIRE_FENCE_SCOPE);
-    header |= (HSA_FENCE_SCOPE_SYSTEM << HSA_PACKET_HEADER_ACQUIRE_FENCE_SCOPE);
-    addSystemScope_ = false;
-  }
-
   // TODO: placeholder to setup the kernel to populate start and end timestamp.
   if (timestamp_ != nullptr) {
     // Find signal slot
@@ -2332,6 +2325,12 @@ bool VirtualGPU::submitKernelInternal(const amd::NDRangeContainer& sizes, const
       aqlHeaderWithOrder &= kAqlHeaderMask;
     }
 
+    if (addSystemScope_) {
+      aqlHeaderWithOrder &= ~(HSA_FENCE_SCOPE_AGENT << HSA_PACKET_HEADER_ACQUIRE_FENCE_SCOPE);
+      aqlHeaderWithOrder |= (HSA_FENCE_SCOPE_SYSTEM << HSA_PACKET_HEADER_ACQUIRE_FENCE_SCOPE);
+      addSystemScope_ = false;
+    }
+
     // Dispatch the packet
     if (!dispatchAqlPacket(
             &dispatchPacket, aqlHeaderWithOrder,
@@ -2455,6 +2454,7 @@ void VirtualGPU::submitAcquireExtObjects(amd::AcquireExtObjectsCommand& vcmd) {
   amd::ScopedLock lock(execution());
 
   profilingBegin(vcmd);
+  addSystemScope();
   profilingEnd(vcmd);
 }