diff --git a/opal/mca/pmix/base/pmix_base_fns.c b/opal/mca/pmix/base/pmix_base_fns.c
index d129cf1df0a..7dd6752d531 100644
--- a/opal/mca/pmix/base/pmix_base_fns.c
+++ b/opal/mca/pmix/base/pmix_base_fns.c
@@ -121,6 +121,7 @@ static void lookup_cbfunc(int status, opal_list_t *data, void *cbdata)
 static void opcbfunc(int status, void *cbdata)
 {
     struct lookup_caddy_t *cd = (struct lookup_caddy_t*)cbdata;
+    cd->status = status;
     cd->active = false;
 }
 
@@ -155,27 +156,29 @@ int opal_pmix_base_exchange(opal_value_t *indat,
             return rc;
         }
     } else {
-       caddy.active = true;
-       rc = opal_pmix.publish_nb(&ilist, opcbfunc, &caddy);
-       if (OPAL_SUCCESS != rc) {
-           OPAL_ERROR_LOG(rc);
-           OPAL_LIST_DESTRUCT(&ilist);
-           return rc;
-       }
-       while (caddy.active) {
-           usleep(10);
-       }
-       OPAL_LIST_DESTRUCT(&ilist);
-       if (OPAL_SUCCESS != caddy.status) {
-           OPAL_ERROR_LOG(caddy.status);
-           return caddy.status;
-       }
-    }
-
-   /* lookup the other side's info - if a non-blocking form
-    * of lookup isn't available, then we use the blocking
-    * form and trust that the underlying system will WAIT
-    * until the other side publishes its data */
+        caddy.status = -1;
+        caddy.active = true;
+        caddy.pdat = NULL;
+        rc = opal_pmix.publish_nb(&ilist, opcbfunc, &caddy);
+        if (OPAL_SUCCESS != rc) {
+            OPAL_ERROR_LOG(rc);
+            OPAL_LIST_DESTRUCT(&ilist);
+            return rc;
+        }
+        while (caddy.active) {
+            usleep(10);
+        }
+        OPAL_LIST_DESTRUCT(&ilist);
+        if (OPAL_SUCCESS != caddy.status) {
+            OPAL_ERROR_LOG(caddy.status);
+            return caddy.status;
+        }
+    }
+
+    /* lookup the other side's info - if a non-blocking form
+     * of lookup isn't available, then we use the blocking
+     * form and trust that the underlying system will WAIT
+     * until the other side publishes its data */
     pdat = OBJ_NEW(opal_pmix_pdata_t);
     pdat->value.key = strdup(outdat->value.key);
     pdat->value.type = outdat->value.type;
@@ -214,6 +217,7 @@ int opal_pmix_base_exchange(opal_value_t *indat,
             return rc;
         }
     } else {
+        caddy.status = -1;
         caddy.active = true;
         caddy.pdat = pdat;
         keys = NULL;
diff --git a/orte/mca/odls/base/odls_base_default_fns.c b/orte/mca/odls/base/odls_base_default_fns.c
index a243157a4a3..932980d3e15 100644
--- a/orte/mca/odls/base/odls_base_default_fns.c
+++ b/orte/mca/odls/base/odls_base_default_fns.c
@@ -702,7 +702,6 @@ void orte_odls_base_spawn_proc(int fd, short sd, void *cbdata)
         opal_argv_free(argvptr);
     }
     if (ORTE_SUCCESS != rc) {
-        opal_output(0, "%s:%d", __FILE__, __LINE__);
         state = ORTE_PROC_STATE_FAILED_TO_LAUNCH;
         goto errorout;
     }
@@ -798,6 +797,7 @@ void orte_odls_base_spawn_proc(int fd, short sd, void *cbdata)
 
   errorout:
     ORTE_FLAG_UNSET(child, ORTE_PROC_FLAG_ALIVE);
+    child->exit_code = rc;
     ORTE_ACTIVATE_PROC_STATE(&child->name, state);
     OBJ_RELEASE(cd);
 }