diff --git a/ompi/runtime/ompi_mpi_finalize.c b/ompi/runtime/ompi_mpi_finalize.c
index 40a313a6b9..9bf22965c0 100644
--- a/ompi/runtime/ompi_mpi_finalize.c
+++ b/ompi/runtime/ompi_mpi_finalize.c
@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@
 #include "opal/mca/base/base.h"
 #include "opal/util/show_help.h"
 #include "opal/sys/atomic.h"
-#include "opal/mca/carto/base/base.h"
 
 #include "orte/util/proc_info.h"
 #include "orte/mca/oob/base/base.h"
@@ -138,8 +137,6 @@ int ompi_mpi_finalize(void)
         opal_maffinity_base_close();
     }
 
-    opal_carto_base_close();
-
     /* wait for everyone to reach this point
        This is a grpcomm barrier instead of an MPI barrier because an
        MPI barrier doesn't ensure that all messages have been transmitted
diff --git a/ompi/runtime/ompi_mpi_init.c b/ompi/runtime/ompi_mpi_init.c
index 73e8da0a47..12a2be7f62 100644
--- a/ompi/runtime/ompi_mpi_init.c
+++ b/ompi/runtime/ompi_mpi_init.c
@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@
 #include "opal/util/num_procs.h"
 #include "opal/runtime/opal.h"
 #include "opal/event/event.h"
-#include "opal/mca/carto/base/base.h"
 
 #include "orte/util/sys_info.h"
 #include "orte/util/proc_info.h"
@@ -313,16 +312,6 @@ int ompi_mpi_init(int argc, char **argv, int requested, int *provided)
         }
     }
 
-    if (OPAL_SUCCESS != (ret = opal_carto_base_open())) {
-        error = "opal_carto_base_open";
-        goto error;
-    }
-
-    if (OPAL_SUCCESS != (ret = opal_carto_base_select())) {
-        error = "opal_carto_base_select";
-        goto error;
-    }
-
     /* initialize datatypes. This step should be done early as it will
      * create the local convertor and local arch used in the proc
      * init.
diff --git a/opal/runtime/opal_finalize.c b/opal/runtime/opal_finalize.c
index ae72421a6c..e412fee528 100644
--- a/opal/runtime/opal_finalize.c
+++ b/opal/runtime/opal_finalize.c
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
 #include "opal/mca/paffinity/base/base.h"
 #include "opal/event/event.h"
 #include "opal/runtime/opal_progress.h"
+#include "opal/mca/carto/base/base.h"
 
 #include "opal/runtime/opal_cr.h"
 #include "opal/mca/crs/base/base.h"
@@ -57,6 +58,9 @@ opal_finalize_util(void)
         return OPAL_SUCCESS;
     }
 
+    /* close the carto framework */
+    opal_carto_base_close();
+    
     /* Clear out all the registered MCA params */
     mca_base_param_finalize();
 
diff --git a/opal/runtime/opal_init.c b/opal/runtime/opal_init.c
index e814fc11e5..baff724036 100644
--- a/opal/runtime/opal_init.c
+++ b/opal/runtime/opal_init.c
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
 #include "opal/mca/timer/base/base.h"
 #include "opal/mca/memchecker/base/base.h"
 #include "opal/dss/dss.h"
+#include "opal/mca/carto/base/base.h"
 
 #include "opal/runtime/opal_cr.h"
 #include "opal/mca/crs/base/base.h"
@@ -334,6 +335,17 @@ opal_init(void)
         goto return_error;
     }
 
+    /* setup the carto framework */
+    if (OPAL_SUCCESS != (ret = opal_carto_base_open())) {
+        error = "opal_carto_base_open";
+        goto return_error;
+    }
+    
+    if (OPAL_SUCCESS != (ret = opal_carto_base_select())) {
+        error = "opal_carto_base_select";
+        goto return_error;
+    }
+    
     /*
      * Need to start the event and progress engines if noone else is.
      * opal_cr_init uses the progress engine, so it is lumped together