diff --git a/ompi/mca/pml/base/pml_base_bsend.c b/ompi/mca/pml/base/pml_base_bsend.c
index 1684e16838..13365a4e12 100644
--- a/ompi/mca/pml/base/pml_base_bsend.c
+++ b/ompi/mca/pml/base/pml_base_bsend.c
@@ -292,6 +292,9 @@ int mca_pml_base_bsend_request_alloc(ompi_request_t* request)
         /* release resources when request is freed */
         sendreq->req_base.req_pml_complete = true;
         OPAL_THREAD_UNLOCK(&mca_pml_bsend_mutex);
+        /* progress communications, with the hope that more resources
+         *   will be freed */
+        opal_progress();
         return OMPI_ERR_BUFFER;
     }
 
@@ -322,6 +325,9 @@ void*  mca_pml_base_bsend_request_alloc_buf( size_t length )
     if(NULL == buf) {
         /* release resources when request is freed */
         OPAL_THREAD_UNLOCK(&mca_pml_bsend_mutex);
+        /* progress communications, with the hope that more resources
+         *   will be freed */
+        opal_progress();
         return NULL;
     }
 
diff --git a/ompi/mca/pml/cm/pml_cm_sendreq.h b/ompi/mca/pml/cm/pml_cm_sendreq.h
index 53ae295e82..079bb18ff1 100644
--- a/ompi/mca/pml/cm/pml_cm_sendreq.h
+++ b/ompi/mca/pml/cm/pml_cm_sendreq.h
@@ -225,8 +225,6 @@ do {                                                                    \
         sendreq->req_buff =                                             \
             mca_pml_base_bsend_request_alloc_buf(sendreq->req_count);   \
         if (NULL == sendreq->req_buff) {                                \
-            /* progress to complete outstanding sends and free resources */ \
-            opal_progress();                                            \
             ret = MPI_ERR_BUFFER;                                       \
         } else {                                                        \
             iov.iov_base = (IOVBASE_TYPE*)sendreq->req_buff;            \