A method for initiating a remote trace route includes establishing a communication session between a first endpoint and a second endpoint. The method also includes detecting at the first endpoint a quality impairment in a communication sent from the second endpoint. In response to detecting the quality impairment, the method includes sending a request from the first endpoint to the second endpoint for the second endpoint to initiate a trace route from the second endpoint to the first endpoint. Upon receiving the request at the second endpoint, the method includes initiating a trace route from the second endpoint to the first endpoint.