diff --git a/orte/mca/ras/base/ras_base_allocate.c b/orte/mca/ras/base/ras_base_allocate.c
index 7c2389fe3b..bb160fae72 100644
--- a/orte/mca/ras/base/ras_base_allocate.c
+++ b/orte/mca/ras/base/ras_base_allocate.c
@@ -254,7 +254,6 @@ void orte_ras_base_allocate(int fd, short args, void *cbdata)
         /* a default hostfile was provided - parse it */
         if (ORTE_SUCCESS != (rc = orte_util_add_hostfile_nodes(&nodes,
                                                                orte_default_hostfile))) {
-            ORTE_ERROR_LOG(rc);
             OBJ_DESTRUCT(&nodes);
             ORTE_FORCED_TERMINATE(ORTE_ERROR_DEFAULT_EXIT_CODE);
             OBJ_RELEASE(caddy);
@@ -270,7 +269,6 @@ void orte_ras_base_allocate(int fd, short args, void *cbdata)
         /* a rankfile was provided - parse it */
         if (ORTE_SUCCESS != (rc = orte_util_add_hostfile_nodes(&nodes,
                                                                orte_rankfile))) {
-            ORTE_ERROR_LOG(rc);
             OBJ_DESTRUCT(&nodes);
             ORTE_FORCED_TERMINATE(ORTE_ERROR_DEFAULT_EXIT_CODE);
             OBJ_RELEASE(caddy);
@@ -290,7 +288,6 @@ void orte_ras_base_allocate(int fd, short args, void *cbdata)
             /* hostfile was specified - parse it and add it to the list */
             if (ORTE_SUCCESS != (rc = orte_util_add_hostfile_nodes(&nodes,
                                                                    app->hostfile))) {
-                ORTE_ERROR_LOG(rc);
                 OBJ_DESTRUCT(&nodes);
                 /* set an error event */
                 ORTE_FORCED_TERMINATE(ORTE_ERROR_DEFAULT_EXIT_CODE);
@@ -310,7 +307,6 @@ void orte_ras_base_allocate(int fd, short args, void *cbdata)
                                  ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME)));
             if (ORTE_SUCCESS != (rc = orte_util_add_dash_host_nodes(&nodes,
                                                                     app->dash_host))) {
-                ORTE_ERROR_LOG(rc);
                 OBJ_DESTRUCT(&nodes);
                 ORTE_FORCED_TERMINATE(ORTE_ERROR_DEFAULT_EXIT_CODE);
                 OBJ_RELEASE(caddy);
diff --git a/orte/util/hostfile/hostfile.c b/orte/util/hostfile/hostfile.c
index 96b8c68e32..0af57a064f 100644
--- a/orte/util/hostfile/hostfile.c
+++ b/orte/util/hostfile/hostfile.c
@@ -336,6 +336,7 @@ static int hostfile_parse_line(int token, opal_list_t* updates,
                 orte_show_help("help-hostfile.txt", "slots",
                                true,
                                cur_hostfile_name, rc);
+                opal_list_remove_item(updates, &node->super);
                 OBJ_RELEASE(node);
                 return ORTE_ERROR;
             }
@@ -346,6 +347,7 @@ static int hostfile_parse_line(int token, opal_list_t* updates,
                 orte_show_help("help-hostfile.txt", "slots-given",
                                true,
                                cur_hostfile_name, node->name);
+                opal_list_remove_item(updates, &node->super);
                 OBJ_RELEASE(node);
                 return ORTE_ERROR;
             }
@@ -364,6 +366,7 @@ static int hostfile_parse_line(int token, opal_list_t* updates,
                 orte_show_help("help-hostfile.txt", "max_slots",
                                true,
                                cur_hostfile_name, ((size_t) rc));
+                opal_list_remove_item(updates, &node->super);
                 OBJ_RELEASE(node);
                 return ORTE_ERROR;
             }
@@ -378,6 +381,7 @@ static int hostfile_parse_line(int token, opal_list_t* updates,
                                true,
                                cur_hostfile_name, node->slots, rc);
                 ORTE_ERROR_LOG(ORTE_ERR_BAD_PARAM);
+                opal_list_remove_item(updates, &node->super);
                 OBJ_RELEASE(node);
                 return ORTE_ERROR;
             }
@@ -385,11 +389,13 @@ static int hostfile_parse_line(int token, opal_list_t* updates,
 
         default:
             hostfile_parse_error(token);
+            opal_list_remove_item(updates, &node->super);
             OBJ_RELEASE(node);
             return ORTE_ERROR;
         }
         if (number_of_slots > node->slots) {
             ORTE_ERROR_LOG(ORTE_ERR_BAD_PARAM);
+            opal_list_remove_item(updates, &node->super);
             OBJ_RELEASE(node);
             return ORTE_ERROR;
         }