diff --git a/opal/mca/pmix/pmix2x/pmix/src/client/pmix_client.c b/opal/mca/pmix/pmix2x/pmix/src/client/pmix_client.c
index b9d133ee507..a1b9546bedb 100644
--- a/opal/mca/pmix/pmix2x/pmix/src/client/pmix_client.c
+++ b/opal/mca/pmix/pmix2x/pmix/src/client/pmix_client.c
@@ -492,7 +492,7 @@ PMIX_EXPORT pmix_status_t PMIx_Abort(int flag, const char msg[],
     pmix_buffer_t *bfr;
     pmix_cmd_t cmd = PMIX_ABORT_CMD;
     pmix_status_t rc;
-    pmix_ptl_sr_t cb;
+    volatile bool active;
 
     pmix_output_verbose(2, pmix_globals.debug_output,
                         "pmix:client abort called");
@@ -541,23 +541,15 @@ PMIX_EXPORT pmix_status_t PMIx_Abort(int flag, const char msg[],
         }
     }
 
-    /* create a callback object as we need to pass it to the
-     * recv routine so we know which callback to use when
-     * the return message is recvd */
-     PMIX_CONSTRUCT(&cb, pmix_ptl_sr_t);
-     cb.active = true;
-     cb.cbfunc = wait_cbfunc;
-
     /* send to the server */
+    active = true;
     if (PMIX_SUCCESS != (rc = pmix_ptl.send_recv(&pmix_client_globals.myserver, bfr,
-                                                 wait_cbfunc, &cb))){
-        PMIX_DESTRUCT(&cb);
+                                                 wait_cbfunc, (void*)&active))){
         return rc;
     }
 
     /* wait for the release */
-     PMIX_WAIT_FOR_COMPLETION(cb.active);
-     PMIX_DESTRUCT(&cb);
+     PMIX_WAIT_FOR_COMPLETION(active);
      return PMIX_SUCCESS;
  }
 
diff --git a/opal/mca/pmix/pmix2x/pmix/src/mca/ptl/base/ptl_base_sendrecv.c b/opal/mca/pmix/pmix2x/pmix/src/mca/ptl/base/ptl_base_sendrecv.c
index b51c7902051..88f9bca94a1 100644
--- a/opal/mca/pmix/pmix2x/pmix/src/mca/ptl/base/ptl_base_sendrecv.c
+++ b/opal/mca/pmix/pmix2x/pmix/src/mca/ptl/base/ptl_base_sendrecv.c
@@ -62,6 +62,9 @@ static void lost_connection(pmix_peer_t *peer, pmix_status_t err)
     pmix_regevents_info_t *reginfoptr, *regnext;
     pmix_peer_events_info_t *pr, *pnext;
     pmix_rank_info_t *info, *pinfo;
+    pmix_ptl_posted_recv_t *rcv;
+    pmix_buffer_t buf;
+    pmix_ptl_hdr_t hdr;
 
     /* stop all events */
     if (peer->recv_ev_active) {
@@ -143,6 +146,23 @@ static void lost_connection(pmix_peer_t *peer, pmix_status_t err)
         pmix_globals.connected = false;
          /* set the public error status */
         err = PMIX_ERR_LOST_CONNECTION_TO_SERVER;
+        /* it is possible that we have sendrecv's in progress where
+         * we are waiting for a response to arrive. Since we have
+         * lost connection to the server, that will never happen.
+         * Thus, to preclude any chance of hanging, cycle thru
+         * the list of posted recvs and complete any that are
+         * the return call from a sendrecv - i.e., any that are
+         * waiting on dynamic tags */
+        PMIX_CONSTRUCT(&buf, pmix_buffer_t);
+        hdr.nbytes = 0; // initialize the hdr to something safe
+        PMIX_LIST_FOREACH(rcv, &pmix_ptl_globals.posted_recvs, pmix_ptl_posted_recv_t) {
+            if (UINT_MAX != rcv->tag && NULL != rcv->cbfunc) {
+                /* construct and load the buffer */
+                hdr.tag = rcv->tag;
+                rcv->cbfunc(pmix_globals.mypeer, &hdr, &buf, rcv->cbdata);
+            }
+        }
+        PMIX_DESTRUCT(&buf);
     }
     PMIX_REPORT_EVENT(err, _notify_complete);
 }