diff --git a/orte/mca/grpcomm/brks/grpcomm_brks.c b/orte/mca/grpcomm/brks/grpcomm_brks.c
index 1eeccaef44..4b22d51a88 100644
--- a/orte/mca/grpcomm/brks/grpcomm_brks.c
+++ b/orte/mca/grpcomm/brks/grpcomm_brks.c
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 /*
  * Copyright (c) 2007      The Trustees of Indiana University.
  *                         All rights reserved.
- * Copyright (c) 2011      Cisco Systems, Inc.  All rights reserved.
+ * Copyright (c) 2011-2015 Cisco Systems, Inc.  All rights reserved.
  * Copyright (c) 2011-2013 Los Alamos National Security, LLC. All
  *                         rights reserved.
  * Copyright (c) 2014      Intel, Inc.  All rights reserved.
@@ -314,21 +314,25 @@ static int brks_finalize_coll(orte_grpcomm_coll_t *coll, int ret) {
                          "%s grpcomm:coll:brks declared collective complete",
                          ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME)));
 
-    reply = OBJ_NEW(opal_buffer_t);
-
     /* pack the number of procs involved in the collective
      * so the recipients can unpack any collected data */
     if (1 == coll->sig->sz) {
         /* get the job object for this entry */
         if (NULL == (jdata = orte_get_job_data_object(coll->sig->signature[0].jobid))) {
-            ORTE_ERROR_LOG(rc);
-            OBJ_RELEASE(reply);
-            return rc;
+            ORTE_ERROR_LOG(ORTE_ERROR);
+            return ORTE_ERROR;
         }
         nprocs = jdata->num_procs;
     } else {
         nprocs = coll->sig->sz;
     }
+
+    reply = OBJ_NEW(opal_buffer_t);
+    if (NULL == reply) {
+        ORTE_ERROR_LOG(ORTE_ERR_OUT_OF_RESOURCE);
+        return ORTE_ERR_OUT_OF_RESOURCE;
+    }
+
     if (OPAL_SUCCESS != (rc = opal_dss.pack(reply, &nprocs, 1, OPAL_UINT64))) {
         ORTE_ERROR_LOG(rc);
         OBJ_RELEASE(reply);
diff --git a/orte/mca/grpcomm/rcd/grpcomm_rcd.c b/orte/mca/grpcomm/rcd/grpcomm_rcd.c
index 139f2e321b..74dd1bdf47 100644
--- a/orte/mca/grpcomm/rcd/grpcomm_rcd.c
+++ b/orte/mca/grpcomm/rcd/grpcomm_rcd.c
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 /*
  * Copyright (c) 2007      The Trustees of Indiana University.
  *                         All rights reserved.
- * Copyright (c) 2011      Cisco Systems, Inc.  All rights reserved.
+ * Copyright (c) 2011-2015 Cisco Systems, Inc.  All rights reserved.
  * Copyright (c) 2011-2013 Los Alamos National Security, LLC. All
  *                         rights reserved.
  * Copyright (c) 2014      Intel, Inc.  All rights reserved.
@@ -318,21 +318,25 @@ static int rcd_finalize_coll(orte_grpcomm_coll_t *coll, int ret) {
                          "%s grpcomm:coll:recdub declared collective complete",
                          ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME)));
 
-    reply = OBJ_NEW(opal_buffer_t);
-
     /* pack the number of procs involved in the collective
      * so the recipients can unpack any collected data */
     if (1 == coll->sig->sz) {
         /* get the job object for this entry */
         if (NULL == (jdata = orte_get_job_data_object(coll->sig->signature[0].jobid))) {
-            ORTE_ERROR_LOG(rc);
-            OBJ_RELEASE(reply);
-            return rc;
+            ORTE_ERROR_LOG(ORTE_ERROR);
+            return ORTE_ERROR;
         }
         nprocs = jdata->num_procs;
     } else {
         nprocs = coll->sig->sz;
     }
+
+    reply = OBJ_NEW(opal_buffer_t);
+    if (NULL == reply) {
+        ORTE_ERROR_LOG(ORTE_ERR_OUT_OF_RESOURCE);
+        return ORTE_ERR_OUT_OF_RESOURCE;
+    }
+
     if (OPAL_SUCCESS != (rc = opal_dss.pack(reply, &nprocs, 1, OPAL_UINT64))) {
         ORTE_ERROR_LOG(rc);
         OBJ_RELEASE(reply);