diff --git a/servers/slapd/backend.c b/servers/slapd/backend.c
index f0adee39b0..55f9228c86 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/backend.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/backend.c
@@ -336,6 +336,23 @@ int backend_startup(Backend *be)
 
 	/* open each backend database */
 	for( i = 0; i < nBackendDB; i++ ) {
+		if ( backendDB[i].be_update_ndn.bv_val && (
+			!backendDB[i].be_update_refs &&
+			!backendDB[i].syncinfo &&
+			!default_referral ) ) {
+#ifdef NEW_LOGGING
+			LDAP_LOG( BACKEND, CRIT, 
+				"backend_startup: slave \"%s\" updateref missing\n",
+				backendDB[i].be_suffix[0].bv_val, 0, 0 );
+				
+#else
+			Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_ANY,
+				"backend_startup: slave \"%s\" updateref missing\n",
+				backendDB[i].be_suffix[0].bv_val, 0, 0 );
+#endif
+			return -1;
+		}
+
 		/* append global access controls */
 		acl_append( &backendDB[i].be_acl, global_acl );