diff --git a/orte/orted/pmix/pmix_server_dyn.c b/orte/orted/pmix/pmix_server_dyn.c
index 8eacbbfe401..4b908b990a0 100644
--- a/orte/orted/pmix/pmix_server_dyn.c
+++ b/orte/orted/pmix/pmix_server_dyn.c
@@ -399,7 +399,11 @@ static void _cnlk(int status, opal_list_t *data, void *cbdata)
 
     /* restart the cnct processor */
     ORTE_PMIX_OPERATION(cd->procs, cd->info, _cnct, cd->cbfunc, cd->cbdata);
+    /* protect the re-referenced data */
+    cd->procs = NULL;
+    cd->info = NULL;
     OBJ_RELEASE(cd);
+    return;
 
   release:
     if (NULL != cd->cbfunc) {
@@ -415,6 +419,7 @@ static void _cnct(int sd, short args, void *cbdata)
     char **keys = NULL, *key;
     orte_job_t *jdata;
     int rc = ORTE_SUCCESS;
+    opal_value_t *kv;
 
     ORTE_ACQUIRE_OBJECT(cd);
 
@@ -444,6 +449,12 @@ static void _cnct(int sd, short args, void *cbdata)
             orte_util_convert_jobid_to_string(&key, nm->name.jobid);
             opal_argv_append_nosize(&keys, key);
             free(key);
+            /* we have to add the user's id to our list of info */
+            kv = OBJ_NEW(opal_value_t);
+            kv->key = strdup(OPAL_PMIX_USERID);
+            kv->type = OPAL_UINT32;
+            kv->data.uint32 = geteuid();
+            opal_list_append(cd->info, &kv->super);
             if (ORTE_SUCCESS != (rc = pmix_server_lookup_fn(&nm->name, keys, cd->info, _cnlk, cd))) {
                 opal_argv_free(keys);
                 goto release;
diff --git a/orte/orted/pmix/pmix_server_pub.c b/orte/orted/pmix/pmix_server_pub.c
index 6a6044e6a38..46d4e97000d 100644
--- a/orte/orted/pmix/pmix_server_pub.c
+++ b/orte/orted/pmix/pmix_server_pub.c
@@ -394,6 +394,10 @@ int pmix_server_lookup_fn(opal_process_name_t *proc, char **keys,
             req->timeout = iptr->data.integer;
             continue;
         }
+        opal_output_verbose(2, orte_pmix_server_globals.output,
+                            "%s lookup directive %s for proc %s",
+                            ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME), iptr->key,
+                            ORTE_NAME_PRINT(proc));
         if (OPAL_SUCCESS != (rc = opal_dss.pack(&req->msg, &iptr, 1, OPAL_VALUE))) {
             ORTE_ERROR_LOG(rc);
             OBJ_RELEASE(req);
diff --git a/orte/orted/pmix/pmix_server_register_fns.c b/orte/orted/pmix/pmix_server_register_fns.c
index 5db881970a3..b1b08d8f39c 100644
--- a/orte/orted/pmix/pmix_server_register_fns.c
+++ b/orte/orted/pmix/pmix_server_register_fns.c
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@
 #include "pmix_server_internal.h"
 #include "pmix_server.h"
 
+static void mycbfunc(int status, void *cbdata);
+
 /* stuff proc attributes for sending back to a proc */
 int orte_pmix_server_register_nspace(orte_job_t *jdata, bool force)
 {
@@ -472,5 +474,67 @@ int orte_pmix_server_register_nspace(orte_job_t *jdata, bool force)
                                           info, NULL, NULL);
     OPAL_LIST_RELEASE(info);
 
+    /* if the user has connected us to an external server, then we must
+     * assume there is going to be some cross-mpirun exchange, and so
+     * we protect against that situation by publishing the job info
+     * for this job - this allows any subsequent "connect" to retrieve
+     * the job info */
+    if (NULL != orte_data_server_uri) {
+        opal_buffer_t buf;
+
+        OBJ_CONSTRUCT(&buf, opal_buffer_t);
+        if (OPAL_SUCCESS != (rc = opal_dss.pack(&buf, &jdata, 1, ORTE_JOB))) {
+            ORTE_ERROR_LOG(rc);
+            OBJ_DESTRUCT(&buf);
+            return rc;
+        }
+        info = OBJ_NEW(opal_list_t);
+        /* create a key-value with the key being the string jobid
+         * and the value being the byte object */
+        kv = OBJ_NEW(opal_value_t);
+        orte_util_convert_jobid_to_string(&kv->key, jdata->jobid);
+        kv->type = OPAL_BYTE_OBJECT;
+        opal_dss.unload(&buf, (void**)&kv->data.bo.bytes, &kv->data.bo.size);
+        OBJ_DESTRUCT(&buf);
+        opal_list_append(info, &kv->super);
+
+        /* set the range to be session */
+        kv = OBJ_NEW(opal_value_t);
+        kv->key = strdup(OPAL_PMIX_RANGE);
+        kv->type = OPAL_UINT;
+        kv->data.uint = OPAL_PMIX_RANGE_SESSION;
+        opal_list_append(info, &kv->super);
+
+        /* set the persistence to be app */
+        kv = OBJ_NEW(opal_value_t);
+        kv->key = strdup(OPAL_PMIX_PERSISTENCE);
+        kv->type = OPAL_INT;
+        kv->data.integer = OPAL_PMIX_PERSIST_APP;
+        opal_list_append(info, &kv->super);
+
+        /* add our effective userid to the directives */
+        kv = OBJ_NEW(opal_value_t);
+        kv->key = strdup(OPAL_PMIX_USERID);
+        kv->type = OPAL_UINT32;
+        kv->data.uint32 = geteuid();
+        opal_list_append(info, &kv->super);
+
+        /* now publish it */
+        if (ORTE_SUCCESS != (rc = pmix_server_publish_fn(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME,
+                                                         info, mycbfunc, info))) {
+            ORTE_ERROR_LOG(rc);
+        }
+    }
+
     return rc;
 }
+
+static void mycbfunc(int status, void *cbdata)
+{
+    opal_list_t *info = (opal_list_t*)cbdata;
+
+    if (ORTE_SUCCESS != status) {
+        ORTE_ERROR_LOG(status);
+    }
+    OPAL_LIST_RELEASE(info);
+}
diff --git a/orte/runtime/orte_data_server.c b/orte/runtime/orte_data_server.c
index e20eb26b814..903e17c66ad 100644
--- a/orte/runtime/orte_data_server.c
+++ b/orte/runtime/orte_data_server.c
@@ -195,10 +195,10 @@ void orte_data_server(int status, orte_process_name_t* sender,
     orte_data_req_t *req, *rqnext;
     orte_jobid_t jobid = ORTE_JOBID_INVALID;
 
-    OPAL_OUTPUT_VERBOSE((1, orte_data_server_output,
-                         "%s data server got message from %s",
-                         ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME),
-                         ORTE_NAME_PRINT(sender)));
+    opal_output_verbose(1, orte_data_server_output,
+                        "%s data server got message from %s",
+                        ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME),
+                        ORTE_NAME_PRINT(sender));
 
     /* unpack the room number of the caller's request */
     count = 1;
@@ -233,10 +233,10 @@ void orte_data_server(int status, orte_process_name_t* sender,
             goto SEND_ERROR;
         }
 
-        OPAL_OUTPUT_VERBOSE((1, orte_data_server_output,
-                             "%s data server: publishing data from %s",
-                             ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME),
-                             ORTE_NAME_PRINT(&data->owner)));
+        opal_output_verbose(1, orte_data_server_output,
+                            "%s data server: publishing data from %s",
+                            ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME),
+                            ORTE_NAME_PRINT(&data->owner));
 
         /* unpack the range */
         count = 1;
@@ -260,19 +260,19 @@ void orte_data_server(int status, orte_process_name_t* sender,
                 data->uid = iptr->data.uint32;
                 OBJ_RELEASE(iptr);
             } else {
-                OPAL_OUTPUT_VERBOSE((10, orte_data_server_output,
-                                     "%s data server: adding %s to data from %s",
-                                     ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME), iptr->key,
-                                     ORTE_NAME_PRINT(&data->owner)));
+                opal_output_verbose(10, orte_data_server_output,
+                                    "%s data server: adding %s to data from %s",
+                                    ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME), iptr->key,
+                                    ORTE_NAME_PRINT(&data->owner));
                 opal_list_append(&data->values, &iptr->super);
             }
         }
 
         data->index = opal_pointer_array_add(&orte_data_server_store, data);
 
-        OPAL_OUTPUT_VERBOSE((1, orte_data_server_output,
-                             "%s data server: checking for pending requests",
-                             ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME)));
+        opal_output_verbose(1, orte_data_server_output,
+                            "%s data server: checking for pending requests",
+                            ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME));
 
         /* check for pending requests that match this data */
         reply = NULL;
@@ -291,14 +291,14 @@ void orte_data_server(int status, orte_process_name_t* sender,
             for (i=0; NULL != req->keys[i]; i++) {
                 /* cycle thru the data keys for matches */
                 OPAL_LIST_FOREACH(iptr, &data->values, opal_value_t) {
-                    OPAL_OUTPUT_VERBOSE((10, orte_data_server_output,
-                                         "%s\tCHECKING %s TO %s",
-                                         ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME),
-                                         iptr->key, req->keys[i]));
+                    opal_output_verbose(10, orte_data_server_output,
+                                        "%s\tCHECKING %s TO %s",
+                                        ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME),
+                                        iptr->key, req->keys[i]);
                     if (0 == strcmp(iptr->key, req->keys[i])) {
-                        OPAL_OUTPUT_VERBOSE((10, orte_data_server_output,
-                                             "%s data server: packaging return",
-                                             ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME)));
+                        opal_output_verbose(10, orte_data_server_output,
+                                            "%s data server: packaging return",
+                                            ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME));
                         /* found it - package it for return */
                         if (NULL == reply) {
                             reply = OBJ_NEW(opal_buffer_t);
@@ -318,10 +318,10 @@ void orte_data_server(int status, orte_process_name_t* sender,
                             ORTE_ERROR_LOG(rc);
                             break;
                         }
-                        OPAL_OUTPUT_VERBOSE((10, orte_data_server_output,
-                                             "%s data server: adding %s data from %s to response",
-                                             ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME), iptr->key,
-                                             ORTE_NAME_PRINT(&data->owner)));
+                        opal_output_verbose(10, orte_data_server_output,
+                                            "%s data server: adding %s data from %s to response",
+                                            ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME), iptr->key,
+                                            ORTE_NAME_PRINT(&data->owner));
                         if (ORTE_SUCCESS != (rc = opal_dss.pack(reply, &iptr, 1, OPAL_VALUE))) {
                             ORTE_ERROR_LOG(rc);
                             break;
@@ -331,10 +331,10 @@ void orte_data_server(int status, orte_process_name_t* sender,
             }
             if (NULL != reply) {
                 /* send it back to the requestor */
-                OPAL_OUTPUT_VERBOSE((1, orte_data_server_output,
+                opal_output_verbose(1, orte_data_server_output,
                                      "%s data server: returning data to %s",
                                      ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME),
-                                     ORTE_NAME_PRINT(&req->requestor)));
+                                     ORTE_NAME_PRINT(&req->requestor));
 
                 if (0 > (rc = orte_rml.send_buffer_nb(orte_mgmt_conduit,
                                                       &req->requestor, reply, ORTE_RML_TAG_DATA_CLIENT,
@@ -348,11 +348,11 @@ void orte_data_server(int status, orte_process_name_t* sender,
                 reply = NULL;
                 /* if the persistence is "first_read", then delete this data */
                 if (OPAL_PMIX_PERSIST_FIRST_READ == data->persistence) {
-                    OPAL_OUTPUT_VERBOSE((1, orte_data_server_output,
+                    opal_output_verbose(1, orte_data_server_output,
                                         "%s NOT STORING DATA FROM %s AT INDEX %d",
                                         ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME),
                                         ORTE_NAME_PRINT(&data->owner), data->index);
-                    opal_pointer_array_set_item(&orte_data_server_store, data->index, NULL));
+                    opal_pointer_array_set_item(&orte_data_server_store, data->index, NULL);
                     OBJ_RELEASE(data);
                     goto release;
                 }
@@ -371,10 +371,10 @@ void orte_data_server(int status, orte_process_name_t* sender,
         break;
 
     case ORTE_PMIX_LOOKUP_CMD:
-        OPAL_OUTPUT_VERBOSE((1, orte_data_server_output,
-                             "%s data server: lookup data from %s",
-                             ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME),
-                             ORTE_NAME_PRINT(sender)));
+        opal_output_verbose(1, orte_data_server_output,
+                            "%s data server: lookup data from %s",
+                            ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME),
+                            ORTE_NAME_PRINT(sender));
 
         /* unpack the requestor's jobid */
         count = 1;
@@ -429,18 +429,24 @@ void orte_data_server(int status, orte_process_name_t* sender,
             /* ignore anything else for now */
             OBJ_RELEASE(iptr);
         }
-        if (ORTE_ERR_UNPACK_READ_PAST_END_OF_BUFFER != rc || UINT32_MAX == uid) {
+        if (ORTE_ERR_UNPACK_READ_PAST_END_OF_BUFFER != rc) {
             ORTE_ERROR_LOG(rc);
             opal_argv_free(keys);
             goto SEND_ERROR;
         }
+        if (UINT32_MAX == uid) {
+            ORTE_ERROR_LOG(ORTE_ERR_NOT_FOUND);
+            rc = ORTE_ERR_NOT_FOUND;
+            opal_argv_free(keys);
+            goto SEND_ERROR;
+        }
 
         /* cycle across the provided keys */
         ret_packed = false;
         for (i=0; NULL != keys[i]; i++) {
-            OPAL_OUTPUT_VERBOSE((10, orte_data_server_output,
-                                 "%s data server: looking for %s",
-                                 ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME), keys[i]));
+            opal_output_verbose(10, orte_data_server_output,
+                                "%s data server: looking for %s",
+                                ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME), keys[i]);
             /* cycle across the stored data, looking for a match */
             for (k=0; k < orte_data_server_store.size; k++) {
                 data_added = false;
@@ -450,10 +456,10 @@ void orte_data_server(int status, orte_process_name_t* sender,
                 }
                 /* for security reasons, can only access data posted by the same user id */
                 if (uid != data->uid) {
-                    OPAL_OUTPUT_VERBOSE((10, orte_data_server_output,
-                                         "%s\tMISMATCH UID %u %u",
-                                         ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME),
-                                         (unsigned)uid, (unsigned)data->uid));
+                    opal_output_verbose(10, orte_data_server_output,
+                                        "%s\tMISMATCH UID %u %u",
+                                        ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME),
+                                        (unsigned)uid, (unsigned)data->uid);
                     continue;
                 }
                 /* if the published range is constrained to namespace, then only
@@ -461,20 +467,20 @@ void orte_data_server(int status, orte_process_name_t* sender,
                  * in the same namespace as the requestor */
                 if (OPAL_PMIX_RANGE_NAMESPACE == data->range) {
                     if (jobid != data->owner.jobid) {
-                        OPAL_OUTPUT_VERBOSE((10, orte_data_server_output,
-                                             "%s\tMISMATCH JOBID %s %s",
-                                             ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME),
-                                             ORTE_JOBID_PRINT(jobid),
-                                             ORTE_JOBID_PRINT(data->owner.jobid)));
+                        opal_output_verbose(10, orte_data_server_output,
+                                            "%s\tMISMATCH JOBID %s %s",
+                                            ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME),
+                                            ORTE_JOBID_PRINT(jobid),
+                                            ORTE_JOBID_PRINT(data->owner.jobid));
                         continue;
                     }
                 }
                 /* see if we have this key */
                 OPAL_LIST_FOREACH(iptr, &data->values, opal_value_t) {
-                    OPAL_OUTPUT_VERBOSE((10, orte_data_server_output,
+                    opal_output_verbose(10, orte_data_server_output,
                                         "%s COMPARING %s %s",
                                         ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME),
-                                        keys[i], iptr->key));
+                                        keys[i], iptr->key);
                     if (0 == strcmp(iptr->key, keys[i])) {
                         /* found it - package it for return */
                         if (!ret_packed) {
@@ -492,10 +498,10 @@ void orte_data_server(int status, orte_process_name_t* sender,
                             opal_argv_free(keys);
                             goto SEND_ERROR;
                         }
-                        OPAL_OUTPUT_VERBOSE((1, orte_data_server_output,
-                                             "%s data server: adding %s to data from %s",
-                                             ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME), iptr->key,
-                                             ORTE_NAME_PRINT(&data->owner)));
+                        opal_output_verbose(1, orte_data_server_output,
+                                            "%s data server: adding %s to data from %s",
+                                            ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME), iptr->key,
+                                            ORTE_NAME_PRINT(&data->owner));
                         if (ORTE_SUCCESS != (rc = opal_dss.pack(answer, &iptr, 1, OPAL_VALUE))) {
                             ORTE_ERROR_LOG(rc);
                             opal_argv_free(keys);
@@ -504,26 +510,26 @@ void orte_data_server(int status, orte_process_name_t* sender,
                     }
                 }
                 if (data_added && OPAL_PMIX_PERSIST_FIRST_READ == data->persistence) {
-                    OPAL_OUTPUT_VERBOSE((1, orte_data_server_output,
+                    opal_output_verbose(1, orte_data_server_output,
                                         "%s REMOVING DATA FROM %s AT INDEX %d",
                                         ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME),
-                                        ORTE_NAME_PRINT(&data->owner), data->index));
+                                        ORTE_NAME_PRINT(&data->owner), data->index);
                     opal_pointer_array_set_item(&orte_data_server_store, data->index, NULL);
                     OBJ_RELEASE(data);
                 }
             }
         }
         if (!ret_packed) {
-            OPAL_OUTPUT_VERBOSE((1, orte_data_server_output,
-                                 "%s data server:lookup: data not found",
-                                 ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME)));
+            opal_output_verbose(1, orte_data_server_output,
+                                "%s data server:lookup: data not found",
+                                ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME));
 
             /* if we were told to wait for the data, then queue this up
              * for later processing */
             if (wait) {
-                OPAL_OUTPUT_VERBOSE((1, orte_data_server_output,
-                                     "%s data server:lookup: pushing request to wait",
-                                     ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME)));
+                opal_output_verbose(1, orte_data_server_output,
+                                    "%s data server:lookup: pushing request to wait",
+                                    ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME));
                 OBJ_RELEASE(answer);
                 req = OBJ_NEW(orte_data_req_t);
                 req->room_number = room_number;
@@ -541,9 +547,9 @@ void orte_data_server(int status, orte_process_name_t* sender,
         }
 
         opal_argv_free(keys);
-        OPAL_OUTPUT_VERBOSE((1, orte_data_server_output,
-                             "%s data server:lookup: data found",
-                             ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME)));
+        opal_output_verbose(1, orte_data_server_output,
+                            "%s data server:lookup: data found",
+                            ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME));
         goto SEND_ANSWER;
         break;
 
@@ -555,10 +561,10 @@ void orte_data_server(int status, orte_process_name_t* sender,
             goto SEND_ERROR;
         }
 
-        OPAL_OUTPUT_VERBOSE((1, orte_data_server_output,
-                             "%s data server: unpublish data from %s",
-                             ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME),
-                             ORTE_NAME_PRINT(&requestor)));
+        opal_output_verbose(1, orte_data_server_output,
+                            "%s data server: unpublish data from %s",
+                            ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME),
+                            ORTE_NAME_PRINT(&requestor));
 
         /* unpack the range - this sets some constraints on the range of data to be considered */
         count = 1;
@@ -663,10 +669,10 @@ void orte_data_server(int status, orte_process_name_t* sender,
             goto SEND_ERROR;
         }
 
-        OPAL_OUTPUT_VERBOSE((1, orte_data_server_output,
-                             "%s data server: purge data from %s",
-                             ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME),
-                             ORTE_NAME_PRINT(&requestor)));
+        opal_output_verbose(1, orte_data_server_output,
+                            "%s data server: purge data from %s",
+                            ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME),
+                            ORTE_NAME_PRINT(&requestor));
 
         /* cycle across the stored data, looking for a match */
         for (k=0; k < orte_data_server_store.size; k++) {
@@ -699,11 +705,11 @@ void orte_data_server(int status, orte_process_name_t* sender,
         break;
     }
 
- SEND_ERROR:
-    OPAL_OUTPUT_VERBOSE((1, orte_data_server_output,
-                         "%s data server: sending error %s",
-                         ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME),
-                         ORTE_ERROR_NAME(rc)));
+  SEND_ERROR:
+    opal_output_verbose(1, orte_data_server_output,
+                        "%s data server: sending error %s",
+                        ORTE_NAME_PRINT(ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME),
+                        ORTE_ERROR_NAME(rc));
     /* pack the error code */
     if (ORTE_SUCCESS != (ret = opal_dss.pack(answer, &rc, 1, OPAL_INT))) {
         ORTE_ERROR_LOG(ret);