diff --git a/src/mca/base/base.h b/src/mca/base/base.h
index 4608c94ef2..f3489ea03d 100644
--- a/src/mca/base/base.h
+++ b/src/mca/base/base.h
@@ -127,6 +127,8 @@ OMPI_DECLSPEC  int mca_base_component_repository_initialize(void);
 OMPI_DECLSPEC  int mca_base_component_repository_retain(char *type, 
                                         lt_dlhandle component_handle, 
                                         const mca_base_component_t *component_struct);
+OMPI_DECLSPEC int mca_base_component_repository_retain_component(const char *type, 
+                                                                 const char *name);
 OMPI_DECLSPEC  int mca_base_component_repository_link(const char *src_type, 
                                       const char *src_name,
                                       const char *depend_type,
diff --git a/src/mca/base/mca_base_component_repository.c b/src/mca/base/mca_base_component_repository.c
index ddf564643e..8a40745359 100644
--- a/src/mca/base/mca_base_component_repository.c
+++ b/src/mca/base/mca_base_component_repository.c
@@ -134,6 +134,21 @@ int mca_base_component_repository_retain(char *type,
 }
 
 
+/*
+ * Bump up the refcount on a component
+ */
+int mca_base_component_repository_retain_component(const char *type, 
+                                                   const char *name)
+{
+    repository_item_t *ri = find_component(type, name);
+    if (NULL != ri) {
+        OBJ_RETAIN(ri);
+        return OMPI_SUCCESS;
+    }
+    return OMPI_ERR_NOT_FOUND;
+}
+
+
 /*
  * Create a dependency from one component entry to another
  */