diff --git a/orte/mca/iof/base/iof_base_flush.c b/orte/mca/iof/base/iof_base_flush.c
index 570ce2ffaa..2fe77f22bd 100644
--- a/orte/mca/iof/base/iof_base_flush.c
+++ b/orte/mca/iof/base/iof_base_flush.c
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ int orte_iof_base_flush(void)
 
     if(OPAL_THREAD_ADD32(&lock,1) > 1) {
         OPAL_THREAD_ADD32(&lock,-1);
-        return;
+        return ORTE_SUCCESS;
     }
 
     /* flush any pending output */