diff --git a/orte/mca/ess/base/ess_base_put.c b/orte/mca/ess/base/ess_base_put.c
index b2e3b500b2..415b00aa2d 100644
--- a/orte/mca/ess/base/ess_base_put.c
+++ b/orte/mca/ess/base/ess_base_put.c
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ int orte_ess_env_put(orte_std_cntr_t num_procs,
      * AND YES - THIS BREAKS THE ABSTRACTION BARRIER TO SOME EXTENT.
      * We know - just live with it
      */
-    opal_setenv("OMPI_COMM_WORLD_NUM_LOCAL_PROCS", value, true, env);
+    opal_setenv("OMPI_COMM_WORLD_LOCAL_SIZE", value, true, env);
     free(value);
     
     return ORTE_SUCCESS;