diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-meta/config.c b/servers/slapd/back-meta/config.c
index c3424438e6..610f607545 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-meta/config.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-meta/config.c
@@ -1556,6 +1556,11 @@ ldap_back_map_config(
 		return 1;
 	}
 
+	if ( !is_oc && map->map == NULL ) {
+		/* only init if required */
+		ldap_back_map_init( map, &mapping );
+	}
+
 	if ( strcmp( argv[ 2 ], "*" ) == 0 ) {
 		if ( argc < 4 || strcmp( argv[ 3 ], "*" ) == 0 ) {
 			map->drop_missing = ( argc < 4 );
@@ -1702,11 +1707,6 @@ ldap_back_map_config(
 				mapping_cmp, mapping_dup );
 
 success_return:;
-	if ( !is_oc && map->map == NULL ) {
-		/* only init if required */
-		ldap_back_map_init( map, &mapping );
-	}
-
 	return 0;
 
 error_return:;