diff --git a/man/man7/fi_gni.7 b/man/man7/fi_gni.7
index 00bbf0fcddc..17cf2e75fd4 100644
--- a/man/man7/fi_gni.7
+++ b/man/man7/fi_gni.7
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-.TH "fi_gni" "7" "2017\-03\-01" "Libfabric Programmer\[aq]s Manual" "\@VERSION\@"
+.TH "fi_gni" "7" "2017\-03\-15" "Libfabric Programmer\[aq]s Manual" "\@VERSION\@"
 .SH NAME
 .PP
 The GNI Fabric Provider
@@ -250,6 +250,15 @@ GNIX_FAB_RQ_NAMO_AX_S (AND and XOR 32 bit), GNIX_FAB_RQ_NAMO_FAX (Fetch
 AND and XOR) and GNIX_FAB_RQ_NAMO_FAX_S (Fetch AND and XOR 32 bit).
 .SH NOTES
 .PP
+The default address format is FI_ADDR_GNI.
+This is the only address format used within the GNI provider for message
+passing.
+FI_ADDR_STR is always parsed and converted to FI_ADDR_GNI for use within
+the GNI provider.
+.PP
+\f[I]FI_ADDR_STR\f[] is formatted as follows:
+gni;node;service;GNIX_AV_STR_ADDR_VERSION;device_addr;cdm_id;name_type;cm_nic_cdm_id;cookie;rx_ctx_cnt
+.PP
 The GNI provider sets the domain attribute \f[I]cntr_cnt\f[] to the the
 CQ limit divided by 2.
 .SH SEE ALSO
diff --git a/prov/bgq/src/fi_bgq_init.c b/prov/bgq/src/fi_bgq_init.c
index 0664fc0d003..cb9d2334e0c 100644
--- a/prov/bgq/src/fi_bgq_init.c
+++ b/prov/bgq/src/fi_bgq_init.c
@@ -278,9 +278,18 @@ static int fi_bgq_getinfo(uint32_t version, const char *node,
 
 	if (!((FI_BGQ_FABRIC_DIRECT_PROGRESS == FI_PROGRESS_MANUAL) || (FI_BGQ_FABRIC_DIRECT_PROGRESS == FI_PROGRESS_AUTO))){
 		fprintf(stderr,"BGQ Provider must be configured with either auto or manual progresss mode specified\n");
+		exit(1);
 		assert(0);
 	}
 
+	BG_JobCoords_t jobCoords;
+	uint32_t jcrc = Kernel_JobCoords(&jobCoords);
+	if (jobCoords.isSubBlock) {
+		fprintf(stderr,"BGQ Provider cannot be run in a sub-block.\n");
+		fflush(stderr);
+		exit(1);
+	}
+
 	int ret;
 	struct fi_info *fi, *prev_fi, *curr;
 
diff --git a/prov/gni/src/gnix_fabric.c b/prov/gni/src/gnix_fabric.c
index 6a06bed50ec..64399b88ad2 100644
--- a/prov/gni/src/gnix_fabric.c
+++ b/prov/gni/src/gnix_fabric.c
@@ -393,6 +393,20 @@ static int _gnix_ep_getinfo(enum fi_ep_type ep_type, uint32_t version,
 	if (!gnix_info)
 		return -FI_ENOMEM;
 
+	if (hints->addr_format == FI_ADDR_STR) {
+		gnix_info->addr_format = FI_ADDR_STR;
+		/* TODO: uncomment the ifdef below after the 1.5 release */
+#if 0
+		if (!FI_VERSION_GE(version, FI_VERSION(1, 5))) {
+			GNIX_WARN(FI_LOG_FABRIC, "FI_ADDR_STR is only "
+				"supported in api versions >= 1.5 but the "
+				"current api version is: %u.%u",
+				  FI_MAJOR(version), FI_MINOR(version));
+			goto err;
+		}
+#endif
+	}
+
 	gnix_info->ep_attr->type = ep_type;
 
 	if (hints) {