diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-bdb/modify.c b/servers/slapd/back-bdb/modify.c
index 397aefabb5..109b41a6b3 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-bdb/modify.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-bdb/modify.c
@@ -573,6 +573,8 @@ retry:	/* transaction retry */
 			goto return_results;
 		}
 	} else {
+		/* may have changed in bdb_modify_internal() */
+		e->e_ocflags = dummy.e_ocflags;
 		rc = bdb_cache_modify( e, dummy.e_attrs, bdb->bi_dbenv, locker, &lock );
 		switch( rc ) {
 		case DB_LOCK_DEADLOCK: