diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-meta/init.c b/servers/slapd/back-meta/init.c
index 496172f798..89f27ad818 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-meta/init.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-meta/init.c
@@ -138,6 +138,13 @@ meta_back_db_open(
 			not_always_anon_non_prescriptive = 0,
 			rc;
 
+	if ( mi->mi_ntargets == 0 ) {
+		Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_ANY,
+			"meta_back_db_open: no targets defined\n",
+			0, 0, 0 );
+		return 1;
+	}
+
 	for ( i = 0; i < mi->mi_ntargets; i++ ) {
 		slap_bindconf	sb = { BER_BVNULL };
 		metatarget_t	*mt = mi->mi_targets[ i ];