diff --git a/servers/slapd/overlays/syncprov.c b/servers/slapd/overlays/syncprov.c
index 68821da72f..70dc6ff9e8 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/overlays/syncprov.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/overlays/syncprov.c
@@ -510,7 +510,11 @@ findcsn_cb( Operation *op, SlapReply *rs )
 {
 	slap_callback *sc = op->o_callback;
 
-	if ( rs->sr_type == REP_SEARCH && rs->sr_err == LDAP_SUCCESS ) {
+	/* We just want to know that at least one exists, so it's OK if
+	 * we exceed the unchecked limit.
+	 */
+	if ( rs->sr_err == LDAP_ADMINLIMIT_EXCEEDED ||
+		(rs->sr_type == REP_SEARCH && rs->sr_err == LDAP_SUCCESS )) {
 		sc->sc_private = (void *)1;
 	}
 	return LDAP_SUCCESS;