diff --git a/opal/class/opal_list.c b/opal/class/opal_list.c
index e0a5112c38..ed20659a08 100644
--- a/opal/class/opal_list.c
+++ b/opal/class/opal_list.c
@@ -97,11 +97,17 @@ static void opal_list_construct(opal_list_t *list)
 
 
 /*
- * Reset all the pointers to be NULL -- do not actually destroy
- * anything.
+ * Release the list items in the list.
+ * Reset list pointers to be NULL
  */
 static void opal_list_destruct(opal_list_t *list)
 {
+    opal_list_item_t *it;
+
+    while (NULL != (it = opal_list_remove_first(list))) {
+        OBJ_RELEASE(it);
+    }
+
     opal_list_construct(list);
 }
 
diff --git a/oshmem/mca/memheap/base/memheap_base_mkey.c b/oshmem/mca/memheap/base/memheap_base_mkey.c
index 95b770e6d4..aa26ad373f 100644
--- a/oshmem/mca/memheap/base/memheap_base_mkey.c
+++ b/oshmem/mca/memheap/base/memheap_base_mkey.c
@@ -452,6 +452,11 @@ void memheap_oob_destruct(void)
         PMPI_Request_free(&r->recv_req);
     }
 
+    /*clear these list object as they don't belong here */
+    while (NULL != opal_list_remove_first(&memheap_oob.req_list)) {
+        continue;
+    }
+
     OBJ_DESTRUCT(&memheap_oob.req_list);
     OBJ_DESTRUCT(&memheap_oob.lck);
     OBJ_DESTRUCT(&memheap_oob.cond);