diff --git a/opal/mca/pmix/s2/pmix_s2.c b/opal/mca/pmix/s2/pmix_s2.c
index ff0604df66..ed45fe4ad3 100644
--- a/opal/mca/pmix/s2/pmix_s2.c
+++ b/opal/mca/pmix/s2/pmix_s2.c
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ static int s2_init(void)
     OBJ_CONSTRUCT(&kv, opal_value_t);
     kv.key = strdup(OPAL_PMIX_MAX_PROCS);
     kv.type = OPAL_UINT32;
-    kv.data.uint32 = i;
+    kv.data.uint32 = atoi(buf);
     if (OPAL_SUCCESS != (ret = opal_pmix_base_store(&OPAL_PROC_MY_NAME, &kv))) {
         OPAL_ERROR_LOG(ret);
         OBJ_DESTRUCT(&kv);