diff --git a/doc/man/man5/slapd-meta.5 b/doc/man/man5/slapd-meta.5
index 301d358417..2d984d5f37 100644
--- a/doc/man/man5/slapd-meta.5
+++ b/doc/man/man5/slapd-meta.5
@@ -570,13 +570,58 @@ specification.
 The rewrite options are described in the "REWRITING" section.
 
 .TP
-.B subtree\-exclude "<DN>"
-This directive instructs back-meta to ignore the current target
-for operations whose requestDN is subordinate to
-.BR DN .
+.B subtree\-{exclude|include} "<rule>"
+This directive allows to indicate what subtrees are actually served
+by a target.
+The syntax of the supported rules is
+
+\fB<rule>: [dn[.<style>]:]<pattern>\fP
+
+\fB<style>: subtree|children|regex\fP
+
+When \fB<style>\fP is either \fBsubtree\fP or \fBchildren\fP
+the \fB<pattern>\fP is a DN that must be within the naming context
+served by the target.
+When \fB<style>\fP is \fBregex\fP the \fB<pattern>\fP is a
+.BR regex (5)
+pattern.
+If the \fBdn.<style>:\fP prefix is omitted, \fBdn.subtree:\fP
+is implicitly assumed for backward compatibility.
+
+In the
+.B subtree\-exclude
+form if the \fIrequest DN\fP matches at least one rule,
+the target is not considered while fulfilling the request;
+otherwise, the target is considered based on the value of the \fIrequest DN\fP.
+When the request is a search, also the \fIscope\fP is considered.
+
+In the
+.B subtree\-include
+form if the \fIrequest DN\fP matches at least one rule,
+the target is considered while fulfilling the request;
+otherwise the target is ignored.
+
+.LP
+.RS
+.nf
+    |  match  | exclude |
+    +---------+---------+-------------------+
+    |    T    |    T    | not candidate     |
+    |    F    |    T    | continue checking |
+    +---------+---------+-------------------+
+    |    T    |    F    | candidate         |
+    |    F    |    F    | not candidate     |
+    +---------+---------+-------------------+
+.fi
+
+.RE
+.RS
 There may be multiple occurrences of the
 .B subtree\-exclude
-directive for each of the targets.
+or
+.B subtree\-include
+directive for each of the targets, but they are mutually exclusive.
+.RE
 
 .TP
 .B suffixmassage "<virtual naming context>" "<real naming context>"
diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-meta/back-meta.h b/servers/slapd/back-meta/back-meta.h
index dca95215ce..3f98381350 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-meta/back-meta.h
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-meta/back-meta.h
@@ -259,6 +259,31 @@ typedef struct metaconn_t {
 	 * in one block with the metaconn_t structure */
 } metaconn_t;
 
+typedef enum meta_st_t {
+#if 0 /* todo */
+	META_ST_EXACT = LDAP_SCOPE_BASE,
+#endif
+	META_ST_SUBTREE = LDAP_SCOPE_SUBTREE,
+	META_ST_SUBORDINATE = LDAP_SCOPE_SUBORDINATE,
+	META_ST_REGEX /* last + 1 */
+} meta_st_t;
+
+typedef struct metasubtree_t {
+	meta_st_t ms_type;
+	union {
+		struct berval msu_dn;
+		struct {
+			regex_t msr_regex;
+			char *msr_regex_pattern;
+		} msu_regex;
+	} ms_un;
+#define ms_dn ms_un.msu_dn
+#define ms_regex ms_un.msu_regex.msr_regex
+#define ms_regex_pattern ms_un.msu_regex.msr_regex_pattern
+
+	struct metasubtree_t *ms_next;
+} metasubtree_t;
+
 typedef struct metatarget_t {
 	char			*mt_uri;
 	ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_t	mt_uri_mutex;
@@ -269,7 +294,10 @@ typedef struct metatarget_t {
 	LDAP_URLLIST_PROC	*mt_urllist_f;
 	void			*mt_urllist_p;
 
-	BerVarray		mt_subtree_exclude;
+	metasubtree_t		*mt_subtree;
+	/* F: subtree-include; T: subtree-exclude */
+	int			mt_subtree_exclude;
+
 	int			mt_scope;
 
 	struct berval		mt_psuffix;		/* pretty suffix */
@@ -636,6 +664,9 @@ meta_dncache_delete_entry(
 extern void
 meta_dncache_free( void *entry );
 
+extern int
+meta_subtree_destroy( metasubtree_t *ms );
+
 extern LDAP_REBIND_PROC		meta_back_default_rebind;
 extern LDAP_URLLIST_PROC	meta_back_default_urllist;
 
diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-meta/candidates.c b/servers/slapd/back-meta/candidates.c
index be29071ebd..884fa0563e 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-meta/candidates.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-meta/candidates.c
@@ -32,25 +32,58 @@
 /*
  * The meta-directory has one suffix, called <suffix>.
  * It handles a pool of target servers, each with a branch suffix
- * of the form <branch X>,<suffix>
+ * of the form <branch X>,<suffix>, where <branch X> may be empty.
  *
- * When the meta-directory receives a request with a dn that belongs
- * to a branch, the corresponding target is invoked. When the dn
+ * When the meta-directory receives a request with a request DN that belongs
+ * to a branch, the corresponding target is invoked. When the request DN
  * does not belong to a specific branch, all the targets that
- * are compatible with the dn are selected as candidates, and
+ * are compatible with the request DN are selected as candidates, and
  * the request is spawned to all the candidate targets
  *
- * A request is characterized by a dn. The following cases are handled:
- * 	- the dn is the suffix: <dn> == <suffix>,
+ * A request is characterized by a request DN. The following cases are
+ * handled:
+ * 	- the request DN is the suffix: <dn> == <suffix>,
  * 		all the targets are candidates (search ...)
- * 	- the dn is a branch suffix: <dn> == <branch X>,<suffix>, or
- * 	- the dn is a subtree of a branch suffix:
+ * 	- the request DN is a branch suffix: <dn> == <branch X>,<suffix>, or
+ * 	- the request DN is a subtree of a branch suffix:
  * 		<dn> == <rdn>,<branch X>,<suffix>,
  * 		the target is the only candidate.
  *
  * A possible extension will include the handling of multiple suffixes
  */
 
+static metasubtree_t *
+meta_subtree_match( metatarget_t *mt, struct berval *ndn, int scope )
+{
+	metasubtree_t *ms = mt->mt_subtree;
+
+	for ( ms = mt->mt_subtree; ms; ms = ms->ms_next ) {
+		switch ( ms->ms_type ) {
+		case META_ST_SUBTREE:
+			if ( dnIsSuffix( ndn, &ms->ms_dn ) ) {
+				return ms;
+			}
+			break;
+
+		case META_ST_SUBORDINATE:
+			if ( dnIsSuffix( ndn, &ms->ms_dn ) &&
+				( ndn->bv_len > ms->ms_dn.bv_len || scope != LDAP_SCOPE_BASE ) )
+			{
+				return ms;
+			}
+			break;
+
+		case META_ST_REGEX:
+			/* NOTE: cannot handle scope */
+			if ( regexec( &ms->ms_regex, ndn->bv_val, 0, NULL, 0 ) == 0 ) {
+				return ms;
+			}
+			break;
+		}
+	}
+
+	return NULL;
+}
 
 /*
  * returns 1 if suffix is candidate for dn, otherwise 0
@@ -70,14 +103,27 @@ meta_back_is_candidate(
 		if ( !dnIsSuffix( ndn, &mt->mt_nsuffix ) ) {
 			return META_NOT_CANDIDATE;
 		}
-			
-		if ( mt->mt_subtree_exclude ) {
-			int	i;
 
-			for ( i = 0; !BER_BVISNULL( &mt->mt_subtree_exclude[ i ] ); i++ ) {
-				if ( dnIsSuffix( ndn, &mt->mt_subtree_exclude[ i ] ) ) {
-					return META_NOT_CANDIDATE;
-				}
+		/*
+		 * |  match  | exclude |
+		 * +---------+---------+-------------------+
+		 * |    T    |    T    | not candidate     |
+		 * |    F    |    T    | continue checking |
+		 * +---------+---------+-------------------+
+		 * |    T    |    F    | candidate         |
+		 * |    F    |    F    | not candidate     |
+		 * +---------+---------+-------------------+
+		 */
+			
+		if ( mt->mt_subtree ) {
+			int match = ( meta_subtree_match( mt, ndn, scope ) != NULL );
+
+			if ( !mt->mt_subtree_exclude ) {
+				return match ? META_CANDIDATE : META_NOT_CANDIDATE;
+			}
+
+			if ( match /* && mt->mt_subtree_exclude */ ) {
+				return META_NOT_CANDIDATE;
 			}
 		}
 
diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-meta/config.c b/servers/slapd/back-meta/config.c
index a6a660f3e9..e4197a4000 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-meta/config.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-meta/config.c
@@ -92,6 +92,312 @@ check_true_false( char *str )
 	return -1;
 }
 
+int
+meta_subtree_destroy( metasubtree_t *ms )
+{
+	if ( ms->ms_next ) {
+		meta_subtree_destroy( ms->ms_next );
+	}
+
+	switch ( ms->ms_type ) {
+	case META_ST_SUBTREE:
+	case META_ST_SUBORDINATE:
+		ber_memfree( ms->ms_dn.bv_val );
+		break;
+
+	case META_ST_REGEX:
+		regfree( &ms->ms_regex );
+		ch_free( ms->ms_regex_pattern );
+		break;
+
+	default:
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	ch_free( ms );
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int
+meta_subtree_config(
+	metatarget_t *mt,
+	int argc,
+	char **argv,
+	char *buf,
+	ber_len_t buflen,
+	char *log_prefix )
+{
+	meta_st_t	type = META_ST_SUBTREE;
+	char		*pattern;
+	struct berval	ndn = BER_BVNULL;
+	metasubtree_t	*ms = NULL;
+
+	if ( strcasecmp( argv[0], "subtree-exclude" ) == 0 ) {
+		if ( mt->mt_subtree && !mt->mt_subtree_exclude ) {
+			snprintf( buf, buflen,
+				"\"subtree-exclude\" incompatible with previous \"subtree-include\" directives" );
+			return 1;
+		}
+
+		mt->mt_subtree_exclude = 1;
+
+	} else {
+		if ( mt->mt_subtree && mt->mt_subtree_exclude ) {
+			snprintf( buf, buflen,
+				"\"subtree-include\" incompatible with previous \"subtree-exclude\" directives" );
+			return 1;
+		}
+	}
+
+	switch ( argc ) {
+	case 1:
+		snprintf( buf, buflen, "missing pattern" );
+		return 1;
+
+	case 2:
+		break;
+
+	default:
+		snprintf( buf, buflen, "too many args" );
+		return 1;
+	}
+
+	pattern = argv[1];
+	if ( strncasecmp( pattern, "dn", STRLENOF( "dn" ) ) == 0 ) {
+		char *style;
+
+		pattern = &pattern[STRLENOF( "dn")];
+
+		if ( pattern[0] == '.' ) {
+			style = &pattern[1];
+
+			if ( strncasecmp( style, "subtree", STRLENOF( "subtree" ) ) == 0 ) {
+				type = META_ST_SUBTREE;
+				pattern = &style[STRLENOF( "subtree" )];
+
+			} else if ( strncasecmp( style, "children", STRLENOF( "children" ) ) == 0 ) {
+				type = META_ST_SUBORDINATE;
+				pattern = &style[STRLENOF( "children" )];
+
+			} else if ( strncasecmp( style, "sub", STRLENOF( "sub" ) ) == 0 ) {
+				type = META_ST_SUBTREE;
+				pattern = &style[STRLENOF( "sub" )];
+
+			} else if ( strncasecmp( style, "regex", STRLENOF( "regex" ) ) == 0 ) {
+				type = META_ST_REGEX;
+				pattern = &style[STRLENOF( "regex" )];
+
+			} else {
+				snprintf( buf, buflen, "unknown style in \"dn.<style>\"" );
+				return 1;
+			}
+		}
+
+		if ( pattern[0] != ':' ) {
+			snprintf( buf, buflen, "missing colon after \"dn.<style>\"" );
+			return 1;
+		}
+		pattern++;
+	}
+
+	switch ( type ) {
+	case META_ST_SUBTREE:
+	case META_ST_SUBORDINATE: {
+		struct berval dn;
+
+		ber_str2bv( pattern, 0, 0, &dn );
+		if ( dnNormalize( 0, NULL, NULL, &dn, &ndn, NULL )
+			!= LDAP_SUCCESS )
+		{
+			snprintf( buf, buflen, "DN=\"%s\" is invalid", pattern );
+			return 1;
+		}
+
+		if ( !dnIsSuffix( &ndn, &mt->mt_nsuffix ) ) {
+			snprintf( buf, buflen,
+				"DN=\"%s\" is not a subtree of target \"%s\"",
+				pattern, mt->mt_nsuffix.bv_val );
+			ber_memfree( ndn.bv_val );
+			return( 1 );
+		}
+		} break;
+
+	default:
+		/* silence warnings */
+		break;
+	}
+
+	ms = ch_calloc( sizeof( metasubtree_t ), 1 );
+	ms->ms_type = type;
+
+	switch ( ms->ms_type ) {
+	case META_ST_SUBTREE:
+	case META_ST_SUBORDINATE:
+		ms->ms_dn = ndn;
+		break;
+
+	case META_ST_REGEX: {
+		int rc;
+
+		rc = regcomp( &ms->ms_regex, pattern, REG_EXTENDED|REG_ICASE );
+		if ( rc != 0 ) {
+			char regerr[ SLAP_TEXT_BUFLEN ];
+
+			regerror( rc, &ms->ms_regex, regerr, sizeof(regerr) );
+
+			snprintf( buf, sizeof( buf ),
+				"regular expression \"%s\" bad because of %s",
+				pattern, regerr );
+			ch_free( ms );
+			return 1;
+		}
+		ms->ms_regex_pattern = ch_strdup( pattern );
+		} break;
+	}
+
+	if ( mt->mt_subtree == NULL ) {
+		 mt->mt_subtree = ms;
+
+	} else {
+		metasubtree_t **msp;
+
+		for ( msp = &mt->mt_subtree; *msp; ) {
+			switch ( ms->ms_type ) {
+			case META_ST_SUBTREE:
+				switch ( (*msp)->ms_type ) {
+				case META_ST_SUBTREE:
+					if ( dnIsSuffix( &(*msp)->ms_dn, &ms->ms_dn ) ) {
+						metasubtree_t *tmp = *msp;
+						Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_CONFIG,
+							"%s: previous rule \"dn.subtree:%s\" is contained in rule \"dn.subtree:%s\" (replaced)\n",
+							log_prefix, pattern, (*msp)->ms_dn.bv_val );
+						*msp = (*msp)->ms_next;
+						tmp->ms_next = NULL;
+						meta_subtree_destroy( tmp );
+						continue;
+
+					} else if ( dnIsSuffix( &ms->ms_dn, &(*msp)->ms_dn ) ) {
+						Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_CONFIG,
+							"%s: previous rule \"dn.subtree:%s\" contains rule \"dn.subtree:%s\" (ignored)\n",
+							log_prefix, (*msp)->ms_dn.bv_val, pattern );
+						meta_subtree_destroy( ms );
+						ms = NULL;
+						return( 0 );
+					}
+					break;
+
+				case META_ST_SUBORDINATE:
+					if ( dnIsSuffix( &(*msp)->ms_dn, &ms->ms_dn ) ) {
+						metasubtree_t *tmp = *msp;
+						Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_CONFIG,
+							"%s: previous rule \"dn.children:%s\" is contained in rule \"dn.subtree:%s\" (replaced)\n",
+							log_prefix, pattern, (*msp)->ms_dn.bv_val );
+						*msp = (*msp)->ms_next;
+						tmp->ms_next = NULL;
+						meta_subtree_destroy( tmp );
+						continue;
+
+					} else if ( dnIsSuffix( &ms->ms_dn, &(*msp)->ms_dn ) && ms->ms_dn.bv_len > (*msp)->ms_dn.bv_len ) {
+						Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_CONFIG,
+							"%s: previous rule \"dn.children:%s\" contains rule \"dn.subtree:%s\" (ignored)\n",
+							log_prefix, (*msp)->ms_dn.bv_val, pattern );
+						meta_subtree_destroy( ms );
+						ms = NULL;
+						return( 0 );
+					}
+					break;
+
+				case META_ST_REGEX:
+					if ( regexec( &(*msp)->ms_regex, ms->ms_dn.bv_val, 0, NULL, 0 ) == 0 ) {
+						Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_CONFIG,
+							"%s: previous rule \"dn.regex:%s\" may contain rule \"dn.subtree:%s\"\n",
+							log_prefix, (*msp)->ms_regex_pattern, ms->ms_dn.bv_val );
+					}
+					break;
+				}
+				break;
+
+			case META_ST_SUBORDINATE:
+				switch ( (*msp)->ms_type ) {
+				case META_ST_SUBTREE:
+					if ( dnIsSuffix( &(*msp)->ms_dn, &ms->ms_dn ) ) {
+						metasubtree_t *tmp = *msp;
+						Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_CONFIG,
+							"%s: previous rule \"dn.children:%s\" is contained in rule \"dn.subtree:%s\" (replaced)\n",
+							log_prefix, pattern, (*msp)->ms_dn.bv_val );
+						*msp = (*msp)->ms_next;
+						tmp->ms_next = NULL;
+						meta_subtree_destroy( tmp );
+						continue;
+
+					} else if ( dnIsSuffix( &ms->ms_dn, &(*msp)->ms_dn ) && ms->ms_dn.bv_len > (*msp)->ms_dn.bv_len ) {
+						Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_CONFIG,
+							"%s: previous rule \"dn.children:%s\" contains rule \"dn.subtree:%s\" (ignored)\n",
+							log_prefix, (*msp)->ms_dn.bv_val, pattern );
+						meta_subtree_destroy( ms );
+						ms = NULL;
+						return( 0 );
+					}
+					break;
+
+				case META_ST_SUBORDINATE:
+					if ( dnIsSuffix( &(*msp)->ms_dn, &ms->ms_dn ) ) {
+						metasubtree_t *tmp = *msp;
+						Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_CONFIG,
+							"%s: previous rule \"dn.children:%s\" is contained in rule \"dn.children:%s\" (replaced)\n",
+							log_prefix, pattern, (*msp)->ms_dn.bv_val );
+						*msp = (*msp)->ms_next;
+						tmp->ms_next = NULL;
+						meta_subtree_destroy( tmp );
+						continue;
+
+					} else if ( dnIsSuffix( &ms->ms_dn, &(*msp)->ms_dn ) ) {
+						Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_CONFIG,
+							"%s: previous rule \"dn.children:%s\" contains rule \"dn.children:%s\" (ignored)\n",
+							log_prefix, (*msp)->ms_dn.bv_val, pattern );
+						meta_subtree_destroy( ms );
+						ms = NULL;
+						return( 0 );
+					}
+					break;
+
+				case META_ST_REGEX:
+					if ( regexec( &(*msp)->ms_regex, ms->ms_dn.bv_val, 0, NULL, 0 ) == 0 ) {
+						Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_CONFIG,
+							"%s: previous rule \"dn.regex:%s\" may contain rule \"dn.subtree:%s\"\n",
+							log_prefix, (*msp)->ms_regex_pattern, ms->ms_dn.bv_val );
+					}
+					break;
+				}
+				break;
+
+			case META_ST_REGEX:
+				switch ( (*msp)->ms_type ) {
+				case META_ST_SUBTREE:
+				case META_ST_SUBORDINATE:
+					if ( regexec( &ms->ms_regex, (*msp)->ms_dn.bv_val, 0, NULL, 0 ) == 0 ) {
+						Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_CONFIG,
+							"%s: previous rule \"dn.subtree:%s\" may be contained in rule \"dn.regex:%s\"\n",
+							log_prefix, (*msp)->ms_dn.bv_val, ms->ms_regex_pattern );
+					}
+					break;
+
+				case META_ST_REGEX:
+					/* no check possible */
+					break;
+				}
+				break;
+			}
+
+			msp = &(*msp)->ms_next;
+		}
+
+		*msp = ms;
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
 
 int
 meta_back_db_config(
@@ -99,8 +405,7 @@ meta_back_db_config(
 		const char	*fname,
 		int		lineno,
 		int		argc,
-		char		**argv
-)
+		char		**argv )
 {
 	metainfo_t	*mi = ( metainfo_t * )be->be_private;
 
@@ -315,81 +620,35 @@ meta_back_db_config(
 		}
 
 	/* subtree-exclude */
-	} else if ( strcasecmp( argv[ 0 ], "subtree-exclude" ) == 0 ) {
-		int 		i = mi->mi_ntargets - 1;
-		struct berval	dn, ndn;
+	} else if ( strcasecmp( argv[ 0 ], "subtree-exclude" ) == 0 ||
+		strcasecmp( argv[ 0 ], "subtree-include" ) == 0)
+	{
+		char log_prefix[SLAP_TEXT_BUFLEN];
+		char textbuf[SLAP_TEXT_BUFLEN];
+		char *arg0;
+		int i = mi->mi_ntargets - 1;
 
 		if ( i < 0 ) {
 			Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_ANY,
-	"%s: line %d: need \"uri\" directive first\n",
+		"%s: line %d: need \"uri\" directive first\n",
 				fname, lineno, 0 );
 			return 1;
 		}
-		
-		switch ( argc ) {
-		case 1:
-			Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_ANY,
-	"%s: line %d: missing DN in \"subtree-exclude <DN>\" line\n",
-			    fname, lineno, 0 );
-			return 1;
 
-		case 2:
-			break;
+		if ( strcasecmp( argv[ 0 ], "subtree-exclude" ) == 0 ) {
+			arg0 = "subtree-exclude";
 
-		default:
-			Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_ANY,
-	"%s: line %d: too many args in \"subtree-exclude <DN>\" line\n",
-			    fname, lineno, 0 );
+		} else {
+			arg0 = "subtree-include";
+		}
+
+		snprintf( log_prefix, sizeof(log_prefix), "%s: line %d: %s", fname, lineno, arg0 );
+
+		if ( meta_subtree_config( mi->mi_targets[ i ], argc, argv, textbuf, sizeof(textbuf), log_prefix ) ) {
+			Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_ANY, "%s: %s\n", log_prefix, textbuf, 0 );
 			return 1;
 		}
 
-		ber_str2bv( argv[ 1 ], 0, 0, &dn );
-		if ( dnNormalize( 0, NULL, NULL, &dn, &ndn, NULL )
-			!= LDAP_SUCCESS )
-		{
-			Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_ANY, "%s: line %d: "
-					"subtree-exclude DN=\"%s\" is invalid\n",
-					fname, lineno, argv[ 1 ] );
-			return( 1 );
-		}
-
-		if ( !dnIsSuffix( &ndn, &mi->mi_targets[ i ]->mt_nsuffix ) ) {
-			Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_ANY, "%s: line %d: "
-					"subtree-exclude DN=\"%s\" "
-					"must be subtree of target\n",
-					fname, lineno, argv[ 1 ] );
-			ber_memfree( ndn.bv_val );
-			return( 1 );
-		}
-
-		if ( mi->mi_targets[ i ]->mt_subtree_exclude != NULL ) {
-			int		j;
-
-			for ( j = 0; !BER_BVISNULL( &mi->mi_targets[ i ]->mt_subtree_exclude[ j ] ); j++ )
-			{
-				if ( dnIsSuffix( &mi->mi_targets[ i ]->mt_subtree_exclude[ j ], &ndn ) ) {
-					Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_ANY, "%s: line %d: "
-							"subtree-exclude DN=\"%s\" "
-							"is suffix of another subtree-exclude\n",
-							fname, lineno, argv[ 1 ] );
-					/* reject, because it might be superior
-					 * to more than one subtree-exclude */
-					ber_memfree( ndn.bv_val );
-					return( 1 );
-
-				} else if ( dnIsSuffix( &ndn, &mi->mi_targets[ i ]->mt_subtree_exclude[ j ] ) ) {
-					Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_ANY, "%s: line %d: "
-							"another subtree-exclude is suffix of "
-							"subtree-exclude DN=\"%s\"\n",
-							fname, lineno, argv[ 1 ] );
-					ber_memfree( ndn.bv_val );
-					return( 0 );
-				}
-			}
-		}
-
-		ber_bvarray_add( &mi->mi_targets[ i ]->mt_subtree_exclude, &ndn );
-
 	/* default target directive */
 	} else if ( strcasecmp( argv[ 0 ], "default-target" ) == 0 ) {
 		int 		i = mi->mi_ntargets - 1;
@@ -1564,6 +1823,7 @@ idassert-authzFrom	"dn:<rootdn>"
 	} else {
 		return SLAP_CONF_UNKNOWN;
 	}
+
 	return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-meta/init.c b/servers/slapd/back-meta/init.c
index 0df8df8730..3bd0cc8c21 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-meta/init.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-meta/init.c
@@ -318,8 +318,9 @@ target_free(
 		free( mt->mt_uri );
 		ldap_pvt_thread_mutex_destroy( &mt->mt_uri_mutex );
 	}
-	if ( mt->mt_subtree_exclude ) {
-		ber_bvarray_free( mt->mt_subtree_exclude );
+	if ( mt->mt_subtree ) {
+		meta_subtree_destroy( mt->mt_subtree );
+		mt->mt_subtree = NULL;
 	}
 	if ( !BER_BVISNULL( &mt->mt_psuffix ) ) {
 		free( mt->mt_psuffix.bv_val );