diff --git a/orte/tools/orte-dvm/orte-dvm.c b/orte/tools/orte-dvm/orte-dvm.c
index d7c6b3ab38..f2101c9b62 100644
--- a/orte/tools/orte-dvm/orte-dvm.c
+++ b/orte/tools/orte-dvm/orte-dvm.c
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@
 #include "opal/util/opal_getcwd.h"
 #include "opal/util/show_help.h"
 #include "opal/util/fd.h"
+#include "opal/util/daemon_init.h"
 
 #include "opal/version.h"
 #include "opal/runtime/opal.h"
@@ -99,6 +100,8 @@ static struct {
     char *report_uri;
     char *prefix;
     bool run_as_root;
+    bool set_sid;
+    bool daemonize;
 } myglobals;
 
 static opal_cmd_line_init_t cmd_line_init[] = {
@@ -118,6 +121,14 @@ static opal_cmd_line_init_t cmd_line_init[] = {
       &myglobals.prefix, OPAL_CMD_LINE_TYPE_STRING,
       "Prefix to be used to look for ORTE executables" },
 
+    { "orte_daemonize", '\0', NULL, "daemonize", 0,
+      &myglobals.daemonize, OPAL_CMD_LINE_TYPE_BOOL,
+      "Daemonize the orte-dvm into the background" },
+
+    { NULL, '\0', NULL, "set-sid", 0,
+      &myglobals.set_sid, OPAL_CMD_LINE_TYPE_BOOL,
+      "Direct the orte-dvm to separate from the current session"},
+
     { "orte_debug_daemons", '\0', "debug-daemons", "debug-daemons", 0,
       NULL, OPAL_CMD_LINE_TYPE_BOOL,
       "Debug daemons" },
@@ -278,6 +289,22 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
      */
     orte_launch_environ = opal_argv_copy(environ);
 
+#if defined(HAVE_SETSID)
+    /* see if we were directed to separate from current session */
+    if (myglobals.set_sid) {
+        setsid();
+    }
+#endif
+
+    /* detach from controlling terminal
+     * otherwise, remain attached so output can get to us
+     */
+    if(!orte_debug_flag &&
+       !orte_debug_daemons_flag &&
+       myglobals.daemonize) {
+        opal_daemon_init(NULL);
+    }
+
     /* Intialize our Open RTE environment */
     if (ORTE_SUCCESS != (rc = orte_init(&argc, &argv, ORTE_PROC_MASTER))) {
         /* cannot call ORTE_ERROR_LOG as it could be the errmgr