diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/passwd.c b/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/passwd.c
index 8831a3d971..d0211c9313 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/passwd.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/passwd.c
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ ldbm_back_exop_passwd(
 
 	if( dn_normalize( dn ) == NULL ) {
 		*text = "Invalid DN";
-		rc = LDAP_INVALID_DN;
+		rc = LDAP_INVALID_DN_SYNTAX;
 		goto done;
 	}