diff --git a/orte/mca/rmaps/base/rmaps_base_open.c b/orte/mca/rmaps/base/rmaps_base_open.c
index 4c418604e0..5aadc70dd3 100644
--- a/orte/mca/rmaps/base/rmaps_base_open.c
+++ b/orte/mca/rmaps/base/rmaps_base_open.c
@@ -138,6 +138,8 @@ int orte_rmaps_base_open(void)
                                         false, false, -1, &orte_rmaps_base.npersocket);
     if (0 < orte_rmaps_base.npersocket) {
         ORTE_ADD_MAPPING_POLICY(ORTE_MAPPING_NPERXXX);
+        /* bind to socket, UNLESS the user already specified something else */
+        ORTE_XSET_BINDING_POLICY(ORTE_BIND_TO_SOCKET);
     }
     
     /* Do we want to loadbalance the job */