diff --git a/orte/mca/plm/base/base.h b/orte/mca/plm/base/base.h
index a5bea6a9f5..d56cfdc507 100644
--- a/orte/mca/plm/base/base.h
+++ b/orte/mca/plm/base/base.h
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ ORTE_DECLSPEC void orte_plm_base_setup_job_complete(int fd, short args, void *cb
 ORTE_DECLSPEC void orte_plm_base_complete_setup(int fd, short args, void *cbdata);
 ORTE_DECLSPEC void orte_plm_base_daemons_reported(int fd, short args, void *cbdata);
 ORTE_DECLSPEC void orte_plm_base_daemons_launched(int fd, short args, void *cbdata);
+ORTE_DECLSPEC void orte_plm_base_vm_ready(int fd, short args, void *cbdata);
 ORTE_DECLSPEC void orte_plm_base_launch_apps(int fd, short args, void *cbdata);
 ORTE_DECLSPEC void orte_plm_base_post_launch(int fd, short args, void *cbdata);
 ORTE_DECLSPEC void orte_plm_base_registered(int fd, short args, void *cbdata);
diff --git a/orte/mca/plm/base/plm_base_launch_support.c b/orte/mca/plm/base/plm_base_launch_support.c
index 09c3fac871..00f8bbfac5 100644
--- a/orte/mca/plm/base/plm_base_launch_support.c
+++ b/orte/mca/plm/base/plm_base_launch_support.c
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ void orte_plm_base_daemons_reported(int fd, short args, void *cbdata)
 
     /* progress the job */
     caddy->jdata->state = ORTE_JOB_STATE_DAEMONS_REPORTED;
-    ORTE_ACTIVATE_JOB_STATE(caddy->jdata, ORTE_JOB_STATE_MAP);
+    ORTE_ACTIVATE_JOB_STATE(caddy->jdata, ORTE_JOB_STATE_VM_READY);
 
     /* cleanup */
     OBJ_RELEASE(caddy);
@@ -130,6 +130,18 @@ void orte_plm_base_daemons_launched(int fd, short args, void *cbdata)
     OBJ_RELEASE(caddy);
 }
 
+void orte_plm_base_vm_ready(int fd, short args, void *cbdata)
+{
+    orte_state_caddy_t *caddy = (orte_state_caddy_t*)cbdata;
+
+    /* progress the job */
+    caddy->jdata->state = ORTE_JOB_STATE_VM_READY;
+    ORTE_ACTIVATE_JOB_STATE(caddy->jdata, ORTE_JOB_STATE_MAP);
+
+    /* cleanup */
+    OBJ_RELEASE(caddy);
+}
+
 void orte_plm_base_setup_job(int fd, short args, void *cbdata)
 {
     int rc;
diff --git a/orte/mca/plm/plm_types.h b/orte/mca/plm/plm_types.h
index 99da8e4540..f7334043b2 100644
--- a/orte/mca/plm/plm_types.h
+++ b/orte/mca/plm/plm_types.h
@@ -104,12 +104,13 @@ typedef int32_t orte_job_state_t;
 #define ORTE_JOB_STATE_LAUNCH_DAEMONS            6  /* ready to launch daemons */
 #define ORTE_JOB_STATE_DAEMONS_LAUNCHED          7  /* daemons for this job have been launched */
 #define ORTE_JOB_STATE_DAEMONS_REPORTED          8  /* all launched daemons have reported */
-#define ORTE_JOB_STATE_LAUNCH_APPS               9  /* ready to launch apps */
-#define ORTE_JOB_STATE_RUNNING                  10  /* all procs have been fork'd */
-#define ORTE_JOB_STATE_SUSPENDED                11  /* job has been suspended */
-#define ORTE_JOB_STATE_REGISTERED               12  /* all procs registered for sync */
-#define ORTE_JOB_STATE_READY_FOR_DEBUGGERS      13  /* job ready for debugger init after spawn */
-#define ORTE_JOB_STATE_LOCAL_LAUNCH_COMPLETE    14  /* all local procs have attempted launch */
+#define ORTE_JOB_STATE_VM_READY                  9  /* the VM is ready for operation */
+#define ORTE_JOB_STATE_LAUNCH_APPS              10  /* ready to launch apps */
+#define ORTE_JOB_STATE_RUNNING                  11  /* all procs have been fork'd */
+#define ORTE_JOB_STATE_SUSPENDED                12  /* job has been suspended */
+#define ORTE_JOB_STATE_REGISTERED               13  /* all procs registered for sync */
+#define ORTE_JOB_STATE_READY_FOR_DEBUGGERS      14  /* job ready for debugger init after spawn */
+#define ORTE_JOB_STATE_LOCAL_LAUNCH_COMPLETE    15  /* all local procs have attempted launch */
 
 /*
  * Define a "boundary" so we can easily and quickly determine
diff --git a/orte/mca/state/hnp/state_hnp.c b/orte/mca/state/hnp/state_hnp.c
index 930391892c..c52daaad96 100644
--- a/orte/mca/state/hnp/state_hnp.c
+++ b/orte/mca/state/hnp/state_hnp.c
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ static orte_job_state_t launch_states[] = {
     ORTE_JOB_STATE_ALLOCATE,
     ORTE_JOB_STATE_DAEMONS_LAUNCHED,
     ORTE_JOB_STATE_DAEMONS_REPORTED,
+    ORTE_JOB_STATE_VM_READY,
     ORTE_JOB_STATE_MAP,
     ORTE_JOB_STATE_SYSTEM_PREP,
     ORTE_JOB_STATE_LAUNCH_APPS,
@@ -108,6 +109,7 @@ static orte_state_cbfunc_t launch_callbacks[] = {
     orte_ras_base_allocate,
     orte_plm_base_daemons_launched,
     orte_plm_base_daemons_reported,
+    orte_plm_base_vm_ready,
     orte_rmaps_base_map_job,
     orte_plm_base_complete_setup,
     orte_plm_base_launch_apps,
diff --git a/orte/util/error_strings.c b/orte/util/error_strings.c
index 9af759466e..63ac896516 100644
--- a/orte/util/error_strings.c
+++ b/orte/util/error_strings.c
@@ -217,6 +217,8 @@ const char *orte_job_state_to_str(orte_job_state_t state)
         return "DAEMONS LAUNCHED";
     case ORTE_JOB_STATE_DAEMONS_REPORTED:
         return "ALL DAEMONS REPORTED";
+    case ORTE_JOB_STATE_VM_READY:
+        return "VM READY";
     case ORTE_JOB_STATE_LAUNCH_APPS:
         return "PENDING APP LAUNCH";
     case ORTE_JOB_STATE_RUNNING: