diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-ldap/config.c b/servers/slapd/back-ldap/config.c
index fc0102b1a9..d01b8a825e 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-ldap/config.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-ldap/config.c
@@ -529,6 +529,7 @@ ldap_back_cf_gen( ConfigArgs *c )
 			/* NOTE: don't worry about locking: if we got here,
 			 * other threads are suspended. */
 			avl_free( li->conntree, ldap_back_conn_free );
+			li->conntree = NULL;
 			
 			break;