diff --git a/searchcore/src/vespa/searchcore/proton/matchengine/matchengine.cpp b/searchcore/src/vespa/searchcore/proton/matchengine/matchengine.cpp
index 55cc84107f1..97c94926f23 100644
--- a/searchcore/src/vespa/searchcore/proton/matchengine/matchengine.cpp
+++ b/searchcore/src/vespa/searchcore/proton/matchengine/matchengine.cpp
@@ -138,7 +138,9 @@ MatchEngine::doSearch(const SearchRequest & searchRequest) {
                                   searchRequest.maxhits,
                                   searchRequest.offset,
                                   searchRequest.sortSpec.empty() ? "" : " (with sorting)",
-                                  searchRequest.groupSpec.empty() ? "" : " (with grouping)"));
+                                  searchRequest.groupSpec.empty() ? "" : " (with grouping)"),
+            "query_start");
+
     ISearchHandler::SP searchHandler;
     auto threadBundle = _threadBundlePool.getBundle();
     { // try to find the match handler corresponding to the specified search doc type
@@ -164,7 +166,8 @@ MatchEngine::doSearch(const SearchRequest & searchRequest) {
     }
     searchRequest.trace().addEvent(4,
             vespalib::make_string("returning %zu hits from total %" PRIu64,
-                                  ret->hits.size(), ret->totalHitCount));
+                                  ret->hits.size(), ret->totalHitCount),
+            "query_reply");
     return ret;
 }
 
diff --git a/searchlib/src/vespa/searchlib/engine/trace.cpp b/searchlib/src/vespa/searchlib/engine/trace.cpp
index 134245fb2c0..8d3ecd2980c 100644
--- a/searchlib/src/vespa/searchlib/engine/trace.cpp
+++ b/searchlib/src/vespa/searchlib/engine/trace.cpp
@@ -126,6 +126,16 @@ Trace::addEvent(uint32_t level, std::string_view event) {
     trace.setString("event", event);
 }
 
+void
+Trace::addEvent(uint32_t level, std::string_view event, std::string_view tag) {
+    if (!shouldTrace(level)) { return; }
+
+    Cursor & trace = traces().addObject();
+    addTimeStamp(trace);
+    trace.setString("event", event);
+    trace.setString("tag", tag);
+}
+
 void
 Trace::addTimeStamp(Cursor & trace) {
     trace.setDouble("timestamp_ms", vespalib::count_ns(_relativeTime.timeSinceDawn())/1000000.0);
diff --git a/searchlib/src/vespa/searchlib/engine/trace.h b/searchlib/src/vespa/searchlib/engine/trace.h
index 6a2ab148fc9..6c88731d5d6 100644
--- a/searchlib/src/vespa/searchlib/engine/trace.h
+++ b/searchlib/src/vespa/searchlib/engine/trace.h
@@ -101,6 +101,11 @@ class Trace
      */
     void addEvent(uint32_t level, std::string_view event);
 
+    /**
+     * Will add an 'event' string, with timestamp and tag
+     */
+    void addEvent(uint32_t level, std::string_view event, std::string_view tag);
+
     /**
      * Will compute and and a final duration timing.
      */