diff --git a/orte/mca/grpcomm/direct/grpcomm_direct_component.c b/orte/mca/grpcomm/direct/grpcomm_direct_component.c
index 0f33f5f411..0899dccb7f 100644
--- a/orte/mca/grpcomm/direct/grpcomm_direct_component.c
+++ b/orte/mca/grpcomm/direct/grpcomm_direct_component.c
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ static int direct_register(void)
      * direct for use by apps without affecting daemons - set
      * it to be first for now until the others are fixed
      */
-    my_priority = 10;
+    my_priority = 1000;
     (void) mca_base_component_var_register(c, "priority",
                                            "Priority of the grpcomm direct component",
                                            MCA_BASE_VAR_TYPE_INT, NULL, 0, 0,