A processor implemented method for monitoring the performance of a message queue for communication between processes is described. The method includes, by an initiating process, publishing a trigger message to a first topic in the message queue, wherein the trigger message identifies one or more performance metrics and at least two processes that communicate via the message queue. The method further includes, by one or more of the at least two processes, retrieving the trigger message from the first topic in the message queue; performing a measurement on one or more messages exchanged between the processes over the message queue, wherein the measurement determines the one or more performance metrics; and publishing the one or more determined performance metrics to a second topic in the message queue. The method also includes, at a receiving process, retrieving the published performance metrics from the second topic in the message queue.