diff --git a/external/RSL_LITE/module_dm.F b/external/RSL_LITE/module_dm.F
index eb8bacb4b9..9527805e97 100644
--- a/external/RSL_LITE/module_dm.F
+++ b/external/RSL_LITE/module_dm.F
@@ -228,6 +228,9 @@ SUBROUTINE wrf_dm_initialize
       CALL nl_set_nproc_y ( 1, ntasks_y )
       WRITE( wrf_err_message , * )'Ntasks in X ',ntasks_x,', ntasks in Y ',ntasks_y
       CALL wrf_message( wrf_err_message )
+#if ( defined( DM_PARALLEL ) && ( ! defined( STUBMPI ) ) )
+      CALL MPI_BARRIER( local_communicator, ierr )
+#endif
       RETURN
    END SUBROUTINE wrf_dm_initialize