diff --git a/opal/mca/pmix/ext2x/ext2x_component.c b/opal/mca/pmix/ext2x/ext2x_component.c
index 0b48e54273..a03125f780 100644
--- a/opal/mca/pmix/ext2x/ext2x_component.c
+++ b/opal/mca/pmix/ext2x/ext2x_component.c
@@ -145,6 +145,7 @@ static int external_component_query(mca_base_module_t **module, int *priority)
 
     /* see if a PMIx server is present */
     if (NULL != (t = getenv("PMIX_SERVER_URI")) ||
+        NULL != (t = getenv("PMIX_SERVER_URI2")) ||
         NULL != (id = getenv("PMIX_ID"))) {
         /* if PMIx is present, then we are a client and need to use it */
         *priority = 100;