diff --git a/opal/mca/btl/ugni/btl_ugni_component.c b/opal/mca/btl/ugni/btl_ugni_component.c
index 1248f2f1c3..f687e72d26 100644
--- a/opal/mca/btl/ugni/btl_ugni_component.c
+++ b/opal/mca/btl/ugni/btl_ugni_component.c
@@ -216,7 +216,8 @@ btl_ugni_component_register(void)
                                            MCA_BASE_VAR_SCOPE_LOCAL, &mca_btl_ugni_component.mpool_type);
     OBJ_RELEASE(new_enum);
 
-    mca_btl_ugni_module.super.btl_exclusivity = MCA_BTL_EXCLUSIVITY_HIGH;
+    /* ensure we loose send exclusivity to sm and vader if they are enabled */
+    mca_btl_ugni_module.super.btl_exclusivity = MCA_BTL_EXCLUSIVITY_HIGH - 2;
 
     /* smsg threshold */
     mca_btl_ugni_module.super.btl_eager_limit               = 8 * 1024;