diff --git a/ompi/runtime/ompi_mpi_init.c b/ompi/runtime/ompi_mpi_init.c
index cc39a46931..98eb18a1a6 100644
--- a/ompi/runtime/ompi_mpi_init.c
+++ b/ompi/runtime/ompi_mpi_init.c
@@ -139,8 +139,15 @@ int ompi_mpi_init(int argc, char **argv, int requested, int *provided)
     }
 #endif
 
-    /* Initialize OMPI procs */
+    /* initialize datatypes. This step should be done early as it will create the local convertor
+     * and local arch used in the proc init.
+     */
+    if (OMPI_SUCCESS != (ret = ompi_ddt_init())) {
+        error = "ompi_ddt_init() failed";
+        goto error;
+    }
 
+    /* Initialize OMPI procs */
     if (OMPI_SUCCESS != (ret = ompi_proc_init())) {
         error = "mca_proc_init() failed";
         goto error;
@@ -259,12 +266,6 @@ int ompi_mpi_init(int argc, char **argv, int requested, int *provided)
         goto error;
     }
 
-    /* initialize datatypes */
-    if (OMPI_SUCCESS != (ret = ompi_ddt_init())) {
-        error = "ompi_ddt_init() failed";
-        goto error;
-    }
-
     /* initialize ops */
     if (OMPI_SUCCESS != (ret = ompi_op_init())) {
         error = "ompi_op_init() failed";