diff --git a/ompi/dpm/dpm.c b/ompi/dpm/dpm.c
index 647ec4e15bf..ad7f42a0770 100644
--- a/ompi/dpm/dpm.c
+++ b/ompi/dpm/dpm.c
@@ -595,6 +595,11 @@ int ompi_dpm_disconnect(ompi_communicator_t *comm)
     } else {
         ret = opal_pmix.disconnect(&coll);
     }
+    if (OMPI_SUCCESS != ret) {
+        OMPI_ERROR_LOG(ret);
+        OPAL_LIST_DESTRUCT(&coll);
+        return ret;
+    }
     OPAL_LIST_DESTRUCT(&coll);
 
     return ret;
diff --git a/ompi/mca/bml/r2/bml_r2_ft.c b/ompi/mca/bml/r2/bml_r2_ft.c
index 95fc6ade66b..8dc45d4f1e3 100644
--- a/ompi/mca/bml/r2/bml_r2_ft.c
+++ b/ompi/mca/bml/r2/bml_r2_ft.c
@@ -155,7 +155,10 @@ int mca_bml_r2_ft_event(int state)
              * Barrier to make all processes have been successfully restarted before
              * we try to remove some restart only files.
              */
-            opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0);
+            if( OMPI_SUCCESS != (ret = opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0))) {
+                opal_output(0, "bml:r2: ft_event(Restart): Failed to fence complete\n");
+                return ret;
+            }
 
             /*
              * Re-open the BTL framework to get the full list of components.
@@ -224,7 +227,10 @@ int mca_bml_r2_ft_event(int state)
          * Barrier to make all processes have been successfully restarted before
          * we try to remove some restart only files.
          */
-        opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0);
+        if( OMPI_SUCCESS != (ret = opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0))) {
+            opal_output(0, "bml:r2: ft_event(Restart): Failed to fence complete\n");
+            return ret;
+        }
 
         /*
          * Re-open the BTL framework to get the full list of components.
diff --git a/ompi/mca/crcp/bkmrk/crcp_bkmrk_pml.c b/ompi/mca/crcp/bkmrk/crcp_bkmrk_pml.c
index 7d5e480095a..3276df26d0a 100644
--- a/ompi/mca/crcp/bkmrk/crcp_bkmrk_pml.c
+++ b/ompi/mca/crcp/bkmrk/crcp_bkmrk_pml.c
@@ -3028,7 +3028,10 @@ ompi_crcp_base_pml_state_t* ompi_crcp_bkmrk_pml_ft_event(
 
         if( opal_cr_timing_barrier_enabled ) {
             OPAL_CR_SET_TIMER(OPAL_CR_TIMER_CRCPBR0);
-            opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0);
+            if( OMPI_SUCCESS != (ret = opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0))) {
+                exit_status = ret;
+                goto DONE;
+            }
         }
         OPAL_CR_SET_TIMER(OPAL_CR_TIMER_CRCP0);
 
@@ -3096,7 +3099,10 @@ ompi_crcp_base_pml_state_t* ompi_crcp_bkmrk_pml_ft_event(
 
         if( opal_cr_timing_barrier_enabled ) {
             OPAL_CR_SET_TIMER(OPAL_CR_TIMER_COREBR1);
-            opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0);
+            if( OMPI_SUCCESS != (ret = opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0))) {
+                exit_status = ret;
+                goto DONE;
+            }
         }
         OPAL_CR_SET_TIMER(OPAL_CR_TIMER_CORE2);
     }
@@ -6207,14 +6213,16 @@ static void clear_timers(void) {
 static void display_all_timers(int state) {
     bool report_ready = false;
     double barrier_start, barrier_stop;
-    int i;
+    int i, ret;
 
     if( 0 != OMPI_PROC_MY_NAME->vpid ) {
         if( 2 > timing_enabled ) {
             return;
         }
         else if( 2 == timing_enabled ) {
-            opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0);
+            if( OPAL_SUCCESS != (ret = opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0))) {
+                OPAL_ERROR_LOG(ret);
+            }
             return;
         }
     }
@@ -6235,7 +6243,9 @@ static void display_all_timers(int state) {
 
     if( timing_enabled >= 2) {
         barrier_start = get_time();
-        opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0);
+        if( OPAL_SUCCESS != (ret = opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0))) {
+            OPAL_ERROR_LOG(ret);
+        }
         barrier_stop = get_time();
         opal_output(0,
                     "crcp:bkmrk: timing(%20s): %20s = %10.2f s\n",
diff --git a/ompi/mca/pml/bfo/pml_bfo.c b/ompi/mca/pml/bfo/pml_bfo.c
index e3a1beb447a..ce33b0d57be 100644
--- a/ompi/mca/pml/bfo/pml_bfo.c
+++ b/ompi/mca/pml/bfo/pml_bfo.c
@@ -666,7 +666,10 @@ int mca_pml_bfo_ft_event( int state )
     if(OPAL_CRS_CHECKPOINT == state) {
         if( opal_cr_timing_barrier_enabled ) {
             OPAL_CR_SET_TIMER(OPAL_CR_TIMER_CRCPBR1);
-            opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0);
+            if (OMPI_SUCCESS != (ret = opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0))) {
+                opal_output(0, "pml:bfo: ft_event(Restart): Failed to fence complete");
+                return ret;
+            }
         }
 
         OPAL_CR_SET_TIMER(OPAL_CR_TIMER_P2P0);
@@ -677,7 +680,10 @@ int mca_pml_bfo_ft_event( int state )
         if( !first_continue_pass ) {
             if( opal_cr_timing_barrier_enabled ) {
                 OPAL_CR_SET_TIMER(OPAL_CR_TIMER_COREBR0);
-                opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0);
+                if (OMPI_SUCCESS != (ret = opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0))) {
+                    opal_output(0, "pml:bfo: ft_event(Restart): Failed to fence complete");
+                    return ret;
+                }
             }
             OPAL_CR_SET_TIMER(OPAL_CR_TIMER_P2P2);
         }
@@ -777,7 +783,10 @@ int mca_pml_bfo_ft_event( int state )
         if( !first_continue_pass ) {
             if( opal_cr_timing_barrier_enabled ) {
                 OPAL_CR_SET_TIMER(OPAL_CR_TIMER_P2PBR1);
-                opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0);
+                if (OMPI_SUCCESS != (ret = opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0))) {
+                    opal_output(0, "pml:bfo: ft_event(Restart): Failed to fence complete");
+                    return ret;
+                }
             }
             OPAL_CR_SET_TIMER(OPAL_CR_TIMER_P2P3);
         }
@@ -787,7 +796,10 @@ int mca_pml_bfo_ft_event( int state )
              * Exchange the modex information once again.
              * BTLs will have republished their modex information.
              */
-            opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0);
+            if (OMPI_SUCCESS != (ret = opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0))) {
+                opal_output(0, "pml:bfo: ft_event(Restart): Failed to fence complete");
+                return ret;
+            }
 
             /*
              * Startup the PML stack now that the modex is running again
@@ -799,7 +811,10 @@ int mca_pml_bfo_ft_event( int state )
             }
 
             /* Is this barrier necessary ? JJH */
-            opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0);
+            if (OMPI_SUCCESS != (ret = opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0))) {
+                opal_output(0, "pml:bfo: ft_event(Restart): Failed to fence complete");
+                return ret;
+            }
 
             if( NULL != procs ) {
                 for(p = 0; p < (int)num_procs; ++p) {
@@ -812,7 +827,10 @@ int mca_pml_bfo_ft_event( int state )
         if( !first_continue_pass ) {
             if( opal_cr_timing_barrier_enabled ) {
                 OPAL_CR_SET_TIMER(OPAL_CR_TIMER_P2PBR2);
-                opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0);
+                if (OMPI_SUCCESS != (ret = opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0))) {
+                    opal_output(0, "pml:bfo: ft_event(Restart): Failed to fence complete");
+                    return ret;
+                }
             }
             OPAL_CR_SET_TIMER(OPAL_CR_TIMER_CRCP1);
         }
@@ -825,7 +843,10 @@ int mca_pml_bfo_ft_event( int state )
          * Exchange the modex information once again.
          * BTLs will have republished their modex information.
          */
-        opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0);
+        if (OMPI_SUCCESS != (ret = opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0))) {
+            opal_output(0, "pml:bfo: ft_event(Restart): Failed to fence complete");
+            return ret;
+        }
 
         /*
          * Startup the PML stack now that the modex is running again
@@ -837,7 +858,10 @@ int mca_pml_bfo_ft_event( int state )
         }
 
         /* Is this barrier necessary ? JJH */
-        opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0);
+        if (OMPI_SUCCESS != (ret = opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0))) {
+            opal_output(0, "pml:bfo: ft_event(Restart): Failed to fence complete");
+            return ret;
+        }
 
         if( NULL != procs ) {
             for(p = 0; p < (int)num_procs; ++p) {
diff --git a/ompi/mca/pml/ob1/pml_ob1.c b/ompi/mca/pml/ob1/pml_ob1.c
index 1f35a2d5663..5a14b52e47e 100644
--- a/ompi/mca/pml/ob1/pml_ob1.c
+++ b/ompi/mca/pml/ob1/pml_ob1.c
@@ -807,7 +807,10 @@ int mca_pml_ob1_ft_event( int state )
     if(OPAL_CRS_CHECKPOINT == state) {
         if( opal_cr_timing_barrier_enabled ) {
             OPAL_CR_SET_TIMER(OPAL_CR_TIMER_CRCPBR1);
-            opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0);
+            if (OMPI_SUCCESS != (ret = opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0))) {
+                opal_output(0, "pml:ob1: ft_event(Restart): Failed to fence complete");
+                return ret;
+            }
         }
 
         OPAL_CR_SET_TIMER(OPAL_CR_TIMER_P2P0);
@@ -818,7 +821,10 @@ int mca_pml_ob1_ft_event( int state )
         if( !first_continue_pass ) {
             if( opal_cr_timing_barrier_enabled ) {
                 OPAL_CR_SET_TIMER(OPAL_CR_TIMER_COREBR0);
-                opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0);
+                if (OMPI_SUCCESS != (ret = opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0))) {
+                    opal_output(0, "pml:ob1: ft_event(Restart): Failed to fence complete");
+                    return ret;
+                }
             }
             OPAL_CR_SET_TIMER(OPAL_CR_TIMER_P2P2);
         }
@@ -918,13 +924,19 @@ int mca_pml_ob1_ft_event( int state )
         if( !first_continue_pass ) {
             if( opal_cr_timing_barrier_enabled ) {
                 OPAL_CR_SET_TIMER(OPAL_CR_TIMER_P2PBR1);
-                opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0);
+                if (OMPI_SUCCESS != (ret = opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0))) {
+                    opal_output(0, "pml:ob1: ft_event(Restart): Failed to fence complete");
+                    return ret;
+                }
             }
             OPAL_CR_SET_TIMER(OPAL_CR_TIMER_P2P3);
         }
 
         if (opal_cr_continue_like_restart && !first_continue_pass) {
-            opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0);
+            if (OMPI_SUCCESS != (ret = opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0))) {
+                opal_output(0, "pml:ob1: ft_event(Restart): Failed to fence complete");
+                return ret;
+            }
 
             /*
              * Startup the PML stack now that the modex is running again
@@ -936,7 +948,10 @@ int mca_pml_ob1_ft_event( int state )
             }
 
             /* Is this barrier necessary ? JJH */
-            opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0);
+            if (OMPI_SUCCESS != (ret = opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0))) {
+                opal_output(0, "pml:ob1: ft_event(Restart): Failed to fence complete");
+                return ret;
+            }
 
             if( NULL != procs ) {
                 for(p = 0; p < (int)num_procs; ++p) {
@@ -949,7 +964,10 @@ int mca_pml_ob1_ft_event( int state )
         if( !first_continue_pass ) {
             if( opal_cr_timing_barrier_enabled ) {
                 OPAL_CR_SET_TIMER(OPAL_CR_TIMER_P2PBR2);
-                opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0);
+                if (OMPI_SUCCESS != (ret = opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0))) {
+                    opal_output(0, "pml:ob1: ft_event(Restart): Failed to fence complete");
+                    return ret;
+                }
             }
             OPAL_CR_SET_TIMER(OPAL_CR_TIMER_CRCP1);
         }
@@ -962,7 +980,10 @@ int mca_pml_ob1_ft_event( int state )
          * Exchange the modex information once again.
          * BTLs will have republished their modex information.
          */
-        opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0);
+        if (OMPI_SUCCESS != (ret = opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0))) {
+            opal_output(0, "pml:ob1: ft_event(Restart): Failed to fence complete");
+            return ret;
+        }
 
         /*
          * Startup the PML stack now that the modex is running again
@@ -974,7 +995,10 @@ int mca_pml_ob1_ft_event( int state )
         }
 
         /* Is this barrier necessary ? JJH */
-        opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0);
+        if (OMPI_SUCCESS != (ret = opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0))) {
+            opal_output(0, "pml:ob1: ft_event(Restart): Failed to fence complete");
+            return ret;
+        }
 
         if( NULL != procs ) {
             for(p = 0; p < (int)num_procs; ++p) {
diff --git a/ompi/mca/pml/yalla/pml_yalla.c b/ompi/mca/pml/yalla/pml_yalla.c
index 7890293c330..03bb65d420d 100644
--- a/ompi/mca/pml/yalla/pml_yalla.c
+++ b/ompi/mca/pml/yalla/pml_yalla.c
@@ -265,6 +265,7 @@ int mca_pml_yalla_add_procs(struct ompi_proc_t **procs, size_t nprocs)
 int mca_pml_yalla_del_procs(struct ompi_proc_t **procs, size_t nprocs)
 {
     size_t i;
+    int ret;
 
     if (ompi_mpi_state >= OMPI_MPI_STATE_FINALIZE_STARTED) {
         PML_YALLA_VERBOSE(3, "%s", "using bulk powerdown");
@@ -276,7 +277,9 @@ int mca_pml_yalla_del_procs(struct ompi_proc_t **procs, size_t nprocs)
         PML_YALLA_VERBOSE(2, "disconnected from rank %s", OPAL_NAME_PRINT(procs[i]->super.proc_name));
         procs[i]->proc_endpoints[OMPI_PROC_ENDPOINT_TAG_PML] = NULL;
     }
-    opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0);
+    if (OMPI_SUCCESS != (ret = opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0))) {
+        return ret;
+    }
     return OMPI_SUCCESS;
 }
 
diff --git a/ompi/runtime/ompi_mpi_finalize.c b/ompi/runtime/ompi_mpi_finalize.c
index 538e7fe2ad5..7c326da8005 100644
--- a/ompi/runtime/ompi_mpi_finalize.c
+++ b/ompi/runtime/ompi_mpi_finalize.c
@@ -254,7 +254,13 @@ int ompi_mpi_finalize(void)
              * communications/actions to complete.  See
              * https://github.com/open-mpi/ompi/issues/1576 for the
              * original bug report. */
-            opal_pmix.fence_nb(NULL, 0, fence_cbfunc, (void*)&active);
+            if (OMPI_SUCCESS != (ret = opal_pmix.fence_nb(NULL, 0, fence_cbfunc,
+                                                          (void*)&active))) {
+                OMPI_ERROR_LOG(ret);
+                /* Reset the active flag to false, to avoid waiting for
+                 * completion when the fence was failed. */
+                active = false;
+            }
             OMPI_LAZY_WAIT_FOR_COMPLETION(active);
         } else {
             /* However, we cannot guarantee that the provided PMIx has
@@ -265,7 +271,9 @@ int ompi_mpi_finalize(void)
             ompi_communicator_t *comm = &ompi_mpi_comm_world.comm;
             comm->c_coll->coll_barrier(comm, comm->c_coll->coll_barrier_module);
 
-            opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0);
+            if (OMPI_SUCCESS != (ret = opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0))) {
+                OMPI_ERROR_LOG(ret);
+            }
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/ompi/runtime/ompi_mpi_init.c b/ompi/runtime/ompi_mpi_init.c
index 97ece1dae1e..f824a454116 100644
--- a/ompi/runtime/ompi_mpi_init.c
+++ b/ompi/runtime/ompi_mpi_init.c
@@ -678,18 +678,31 @@ int ompi_mpi_init(int argc, char **argv, int requested, int *provided,
                  * at a time, so we will need to wait when we
                  * get there */
                 active = true;
-                opal_pmix.fence_nb(NULL, true, fence_release, (void*)&active);
+                ret = opal_pmix.fence_nb(NULL, true, fence_release, 
+                                         (void*)&active);
             } else {
-                opal_pmix.fence_nb(NULL, true, NULL, NULL);
+                ret = opal_pmix.fence_nb(NULL, true, NULL, NULL);
+            }
+            if (OMPI_SUCCESS != ret) {
+                error = "opal_pmix.fence_nb() failed";
+                goto error;
             }
         } else if (!opal_pmix_base_async_modex) {
             active = true;
-            opal_pmix.fence_nb(NULL, opal_pmix_collect_all_data,
-                               fence_release, (void*)&active);
+            if (OMPI_SUCCESS != (ret = opal_pmix.fence_nb(NULL,
+                    opal_pmix_collect_all_data, fence_release,
+                    (void*)&active))) {
+                error = "opal_pmix.fence_nb() failed";
+                goto error;
+            }
             OMPI_LAZY_WAIT_FOR_COMPLETION(active);
         }
     } else {
-        opal_pmix.fence(NULL, opal_pmix_collect_all_data);
+        if (OMPI_SUCCESS != (ret = opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 
+                opal_pmix_collect_all_data))) {
+            error = "opal_pmix.fence() failed";
+            goto error;
+        }
     }
 
     OMPI_TIMING_NEXT("modex");
@@ -867,11 +880,17 @@ int ompi_mpi_init(int argc, char **argv, int requested, int *provided,
         } else {
             active = true;
             if (NULL != opal_pmix.fence_nb) {
-                opal_pmix.fence_nb(NULL, false,
-                                   fence_release, (void*)&active);
+                if (OMPI_SUCCESS != (ret = opal_pmix.fence_nb(NULL, false,
+                                   fence_release, (void*)&active))) {
+                    error = "opal_pmix.fence_nb() failed";
+                    goto error;
+                }
                 OMPI_LAZY_WAIT_FOR_COMPLETION(active);
             } else {
-                opal_pmix.fence(NULL, false);
+                if (OMPI_SUCCESS != (ret = opal_pmix.fence(NULL, false))) {
+                    error = "opal_pmix.fence() failed";
+                    goto error;
+                }
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/orte/mca/ess/pmi/ess_pmi_module.c b/orte/mca/ess/pmi/ess_pmi_module.c
index 0420218e26b..8e8f90019be 100644
--- a/orte/mca/ess/pmi/ess_pmi_module.c
+++ b/orte/mca/ess/pmi/ess_pmi_module.c
@@ -441,7 +441,10 @@ static int rte_init(void)
     if (ORTE_PROC_IS_NON_MPI && !orte_do_not_barrier) {
         /* need to commit the data before we fence */
         opal_pmix.commit();
-        opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0);
+        if (ORTE_SUCCESS != (ret = opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0))) {
+            error = "opal_pmix.fence() failed";
+            goto error;
+        }
     }
 
     return ORTE_SUCCESS;
diff --git a/orte/mca/snapc/full/snapc_full_app.c b/orte/mca/snapc/full/snapc_full_app.c
index 1dd5a8d5edd..3a436bc81d4 100644
--- a/orte/mca/snapc/full/snapc_full_app.c
+++ b/orte/mca/snapc/full/snapc_full_app.c
@@ -150,7 +150,11 @@ int app_coord_init()
                              "app) Startup Barrier..."));
     }
 
-    opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0);
+    if (ORTE_SUCCESS != (ret = opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0))) {
+        ORTE_ERROR_LOG(ret);
+        exit_status = ret;
+        goto cleanup;
+    }
 
     if( 0 == ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME->vpid ) {
         OPAL_OUTPUT_VERBOSE((3, mca_snapc_full_component.super.output_handle,
@@ -216,7 +220,11 @@ int app_coord_finalize()
                              "app) Shutdown Barrier..."));
     }
 
-    opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0);
+    if (ORTE_SUCCESS != (ret = opal_pmix.fence(NULL, 0))) {
+        ORTE_ERROR_LOG(ret);
+        exit_status = ret;
+        goto cleanup;
+    }
 
     if( 0 == ORTE_PROC_MY_NAME->vpid ) {
         OPAL_OUTPUT_VERBOSE((3, mca_snapc_full_component.super.output_handle,