diff --git a/servers/slapd/schema_check.c b/servers/slapd/schema_check.c
index 124b9a12bf..0412bb4f20 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/schema_check.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/schema_check.c
@@ -548,6 +548,11 @@ int structural_class(
 		return LDAP_OBJECT_CLASS_VIOLATION;
 	}
 
+	if( scn < 0 ) {
+		*text = "invalid structural object class";
+		return LDAP_OBJECT_CLASS_VIOLATION;
+	}
+
 	*scbv = ocs[scn];
 
 	if( scbv->bv_len == 0 ) {