diff --git a/opal/mca/base/mca_base_open.c b/opal/mca/base/mca_base_open.c
index 42449a925a..d8134b0a2e 100644
--- a/opal/mca/base/mca_base_open.c
+++ b/opal/mca/base/mca_base_open.c
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ int mca_base_open(void)
   }
 
   /* Register some params */
-  asprintf(&value, "%s:%s"OPAL_PATH_SEP".openmpi"OPAL_PATH_SEP"components", opal_install_dirs.pkglibdir, opal_home_directory() );
+  asprintf(&value, "%s%c%s"OPAL_PATH_SEP".openmpi"OPAL_PATH_SEP"components", opal_install_dirs.pkglibdir, OPAL_ENV_SEP, opal_home_directory() );
 
   mca_base_param_component_path = 
     mca_base_param_reg_string_name("mca", "component_path",