diff --git a/src/tools/ompi_info/ompi_info.cc b/src/tools/ompi_info/ompi_info.cc
index 1d5344927f..04fe60a196 100644
--- a/src/tools/ompi_info/ompi_info.cc
+++ b/src/tools/ompi_info/ompi_info.cc
@@ -77,6 +77,14 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     exit(ret);
   }
 
+  /*
+   * Initialize the data packing service.
+   */
+  if (ORTE_SUCCESS != (ret = orte_dps_open())) {
+     printf( "Unable to initialize the DPS component\n" );
+     return ret;
+  }
+    
   ompi_cmd_line_make_opt(cmd_line, 'v', "version", 2, 
                          "Show version of Open MPI or a component");
   ompi_cmd_line_make_opt(cmd_line, '\0', "param", 2,