diff --git a/orte/mca/rml/base/rml_base_components.c b/orte/mca/rml/base/rml_base_components.c
index 0a91af5221..b1e4e40dd9 100644
--- a/orte/mca/rml/base/rml_base_components.c
+++ b/orte/mca/rml/base/rml_base_components.c
@@ -67,6 +67,8 @@ static void msg_pkt_constructor(orte_msg_packet_t *pkt)
 }
 static void msg_pkt_destructor(orte_msg_packet_t *pkt)
 {
+    pkt->sender.jobid = ORTE_JOBID_INVALID;
+    pkt->sender.vpid = ORTE_VPID_INVALID;
     if (NULL != pkt->buffer) {
         OBJ_RELEASE(pkt->buffer);
     }