diff --git a/opal/runtime/opal_finalize.c b/opal/runtime/opal_finalize.c
index eae6056026..37720d4902 100644
--- a/opal/runtime/opal_finalize.c
+++ b/opal/runtime/opal_finalize.c
@@ -66,11 +66,17 @@ opal_finalize_util(void)
     return OPAL_SUCCESS;
 }
 
+extern int opal_initialized;
 
 int
 opal_finalize(void)
 {
-
+    if( --opal_initialized != 0 ) {
+        if( opal_initialized < 0 ) {
+            return OPAL_ERROR;
+        }
+        return OPAL_SUCCESS;
+    }
     /* close high resolution timers */
     opal_timer_base_close();
 
diff --git a/opal/runtime/opal_init.c b/opal/runtime/opal_init.c
index afa4d84cb8..96984007fa 100644
--- a/opal/runtime/opal_init.c
+++ b/opal/runtime/opal_init.c
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@
 #include "opal/util/stacktrace.h"
 #include "opal/util/keyval_parse.h"
 
+int opal_initialized = 0;
+
 static const char *
 opal_err2str(int errnum)
 {
@@ -122,6 +124,12 @@ opal_init_util(void)
     int ret;
     char *error = NULL;
 
+    if( ++opal_initialized != 1 ) {
+        if( opal_initialized < 1 ) {
+            return OPAL_ERROR;
+        }
+        return OPAL_SUCCESS;
+    }
     /* initialize the memory allocator */
     opal_malloc_init();