diff --git a/nipype/pipeline/engine/tests/test_nodes.py b/nipype/pipeline/engine/tests/test_nodes.py
index 4a04b94766..ea03fe69ae 100644
--- a/nipype/pipeline/engine/tests/test_nodes.py
+++ b/nipype/pipeline/engine/tests/test_nodes.py
@@ -290,3 +290,18 @@ def test_inputs_removal(tmpdir):
     n1.overwrite = True
     n1.run()
     assert not tmpdir.join(n1.name, 'file1.txt').check()
+
+
+def test_outputmultipath_collapse(tmpdir):
+    """Test an OutputMultiPath whose initial value is ``[[x]]`` to ensure that
+    it is returned as ``[x]``, regardless of how accessed."""
+    select_if = niu.Select(inlist=[[1, 2, 3], [4]], index=1)
+    select_nd = pe.Node(niu.Select(inlist=[[1, 2, 3], [4]], index=1),
+                        name='select_nd')
+
+    ifres = select_if.run()
+    ndres = select_nd.run()
+
+    assert ifres.outputs.out == [4]
+    assert ndres.outputs.out == [4]
+    assert select_nd.result.outputs.out == [4]
diff --git a/nipype/pipeline/engine/utils.py b/nipype/pipeline/engine/utils.py
index 4ec36afe68..cc47de5d42 100644
--- a/nipype/pipeline/engine/utils.py
+++ b/nipype/pipeline/engine/utils.py
@@ -233,15 +233,78 @@ def write_report(node, report_type=None, is_mapnode=False):
     return
 
 
+def _identify_collapses(hastraits):
+    """ Identify traits that will collapse when being set to themselves.
+
+    ``OutputMultiObject``s automatically unwrap a list of length 1 to directly
+    reference the element of that list.
+    If that element is itself a list of length 1, then the following will
+    result in modified values.
+
+        hastraits.trait_set(**hastraits.trait_get())
+
+    Cloning performs this operation on a copy of the original traited object,
+    allowing us to identify traits that will be affected.
+    """
+    raw = hastraits.trait_get()
+    cloned = hastraits.clone_traits().trait_get()
+
+    collapsed = set()
+    for key in cloned:
+        orig = raw[key]
+        new = cloned[key]
+        # Allow numpy to handle the equality checks, as mixed lists and arrays
+        # can be problematic.
+        if isinstance(orig, list) and len(orig) == 1 and (
+                not np.array_equal(orig, new) and np.array_equal(orig[0], new)):
+            collapsed.add(key)
+
+    return collapsed
+
+
+def _uncollapse(indexable, collapsed):
+    """ Wrap collapsible values in a list to prevent double-collapsing.
+
+    Should be used with _identify_collapses to provide the following
+    idempotent operation:
+
+        collapsed = _identify_collapses(hastraits)
+        hastraits.trait_set(**_uncollapse(hastraits.trait_get(), collapsed))
+
+    NOTE: Modifies object in-place, in addition to returning it.
+    """
+
+    for key in indexable:
+        if key in collapsed:
+            indexable[key] = [indexable[key]]
+    return indexable
+
+
+def _protect_collapses(hastraits):
+    """ A collapse-protected replacement for hastraits.trait_get()
+
+    May be used as follows to provide an idempotent trait_set:
+
+        hastraits.trait_set(**_protect_collapses(hastraits))
+    """
+    collapsed = _identify_collapses(hastraits)
+    return _uncollapse(hastraits.trait_get(), collapsed)
+
+
 def save_resultfile(result, cwd, name):
     """Save a result pklz file to ``cwd``"""
     resultsfile = os.path.join(cwd, 'result_%s.pklz' % name)
     if result.outputs:
         try:
-            outputs = result.outputs.trait_get()
+            collapsed = _identify_collapses(result.outputs)
+            outputs = _uncollapse(result.outputs.trait_get(), collapsed)
+            # Double-protect tosave so that the original, uncollapsed trait
+            # is saved in the pickle file. Thus, when the loading process
+            # collapses, the original correct value is loaded.
+            tosave = _uncollapse(outputs.copy(), collapsed)
         except AttributeError:
-            outputs = result.outputs.dictcopy()  # outputs was a bunch
-        result.outputs.set(**modify_paths(outputs, relative=True, basedir=cwd))
+            tosave = outputs = result.outputs.dictcopy()  # outputs was a bunch
+        result.outputs.set(**modify_paths(tosave, relative=True, basedir=cwd))
 
     savepkl(resultsfile, result)
     logger.debug('saved results in %s', resultsfile)
@@ -293,7 +356,7 @@ def load_resultfile(path, name):
         else:
             if result.outputs:
                 try:
-                    outputs = result.outputs.trait_get()
+                    outputs = _protect_collapses(result.outputs)
                 except AttributeError:
                     outputs = result.outputs.dictcopy()  # outputs == Bunch
                 try: