diff --git a/opal/mca/btl/openib/btl_openib_endpoint.c b/opal/mca/btl/openib/btl_openib_endpoint.c
index 277ff21dabc..32d70bec81b 100644
--- a/opal/mca/btl/openib/btl_openib_endpoint.c
+++ b/opal/mca/btl/openib/btl_openib_endpoint.c
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
  * Copyright (c) 2004-2005 The Regents of the University of California.
  *                         All rights reserved.
  * Copyright (c) 2006-2013 Cisco Systems, Inc.  All rights reserved.
- * Copyright (c) 2006-2016 Los Alamos National Security, LLC.  All rights
+ * Copyright (c) 2006-2017 Los Alamos National Security, LLC.  All rights
  *                         reserved.
  * Copyright (c) 2006-2007 Voltaire All rights reserved.
  * Copyright (c) 2006-2009 Mellanox Technologies, Inc.  All rights reserved.
@@ -611,10 +611,6 @@ void mca_btl_openib_endpoint_connected(mca_btl_openib_endpoint_t *endpoint)
     endpoint->endpoint_state = MCA_BTL_IB_CONNECTED;
     endpoint->endpoint_btl->device->non_eager_rdma_endpoints++;
 
-    /* The connection is correctly setup. Now we can decrease the
-       event trigger. */
-    opal_progress_event_users_decrement();
-
     if(MCA_BTL_XRC_ENABLED) {
         if (master) {
             while (NULL != (ep_item = opal_list_remove_first(&endpoint->ib_addr->pending_ep))) {
diff --git a/opal/mca/btl/openib/btl_openib_endpoint.h b/opal/mca/btl/openib/btl_openib_endpoint.h
index d40347ae9de..c55df2b6b18 100644
--- a/opal/mca/btl/openib/btl_openib_endpoint.h
+++ b/opal/mca/btl/openib/btl_openib_endpoint.h
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
  * Copyright (c) 2004-2005 The Regents of the University of California.
  *                         All rights reserved.
  * Copyright (c) 2007-2009 Cisco Systems, Inc.  All rights reserved.
- * Copyright (c) 2006-2015 Los Alamos National Security, LLC.  All rights
+ * Copyright (c) 2006-2017 Los Alamos National Security, LLC.  All rights
  *                         reserved.
  * Copyright (c) 2006-2007 Voltaire All rights reserved.
  * Copyright (c) 2007-2009 Mellanox Technologies.  All rights reserved.
@@ -498,13 +498,6 @@ static inline int check_endpoint_state(mca_btl_openib_endpoint_t *ep,
             if (OPAL_SUCCESS == rc) {
                 rc = OPAL_ERR_RESOURCE_BUSY;
             }
-            /*
-             * As long as we expect a message from the peer (in order
-             * to setup the connection) let the event engine pool the
-             * OOB events. Note: we increment it once peer active
-             * connection.
-             */
-            opal_progress_event_users_increment();
             /* fall through */
         default:
             opal_list_append(pending_list, (opal_list_item_t *)des);
diff --git a/orte/mca/oob/ud/oob_ud_event.c b/orte/mca/oob/ud/oob_ud_event.c
index d7434013f23..a7374f84138 100644
--- a/orte/mca/oob/ud/oob_ud_event.c
+++ b/orte/mca/oob/ud/oob_ud_event.c
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /* -*- Mode: C; c-basic-offset:4 ; indent-tabs-mode:nil -*- */
 /*
- * Copyright (c) 2011-2012 Los Alamos National Security, LLC. All rights
+ * Copyright (c) 2011-2017 Los Alamos National Security, LLC. All rights
  *                         reserved.
  *               2014      Mellanox Technologies, Inc.
  *                         All rights reserved.
@@ -53,9 +53,6 @@ static bool event_completed_set = false;
 void mca_oob_ud_event_start_monitor (mca_oob_ud_device_t *device)
 {
     if (!event_started) {
-#if !OPAL_ENABLE_PROGRESS_THREADS
-        opal_progress_event_users_increment ();
-#endif
         opal_event_set (orte_event_base, &device->event, device->ib_channel->fd,
                         OPAL_EV_READ, mca_oob_ud_event_dispatch, (void *) device);
         opal_event_add (&device->event, NULL);
@@ -66,9 +63,6 @@ void mca_oob_ud_event_start_monitor (mca_oob_ud_device_t *device)
 void mca_oob_ud_event_stop_monitor (mca_oob_ud_device_t *device)
 {
     if (event_started) {
-#if !OPAL_ENABLE_PROGRESS_THREADS
-        opal_progress_event_users_decrement ();
-#endif
         opal_event_del (&device->event);
         mca_oob_ud_stop_events (device);
         event_started = false;