diff --git a/orte/mca/errmgr/base/errmgr_base_fns.c b/orte/mca/errmgr/base/errmgr_base_fns.c
index d83705dadb..8f866a0e9c 100644
--- a/orte/mca/errmgr/base/errmgr_base_fns.c
+++ b/orte/mca/errmgr/base/errmgr_base_fns.c
@@ -124,8 +124,12 @@ int orte_errmgr_base_abort(int error_code, char *fmt, ...)
         orte_session_dir_finalize(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME);
     }
     
-    /* abnormal exit */
-    orte_ess.abort(error_code, true);
+    /* if a critical connection failed, exit without dropping a core */
+    if (ORTE_ERR_CONNECTION_FAILED == error_code) {
+        orte_ess.abort(error_code, false);
+    } else {
+        orte_ess.abort(error_code, true);
+    }
 
     return ORTE_SUCCESS;
 }
diff --git a/orte/mca/oob/tcp/oob_tcp_peer.c b/orte/mca/oob/tcp/oob_tcp_peer.c
index e67568f0e9..d2f94d2a7f 100644
--- a/orte/mca/oob/tcp/oob_tcp_peer.c
+++ b/orte/mca/oob/tcp/oob_tcp_peer.c
@@ -609,7 +609,7 @@ void mca_oob_tcp_peer_close(mca_oob_tcp_peer_t* peer)
          * tcp OOB
          */
         OPAL_THREAD_UNLOCK(&peer->peer_lock);
-        orte_errmgr.abort(1, NULL);
+        orte_errmgr.abort(ORTE_ERR_CONNECTION_FAILED, NULL);
     }
 }