diff --git a/clients/tools/ldapsearch.c b/clients/tools/ldapsearch.c
index d1a0bd471a..36d6cbbc91 100644
--- a/clients/tools/ldapsearch.c
+++ b/clients/tools/ldapsearch.c
@@ -1191,7 +1191,7 @@ getNextPage:
 			"# filter%s: %s\n"
 			"# requesting: ",
 			version,
-			base, (scope == LDAP_SCOPE_BASE) ? "base"
+			base ? base : "", (scope == LDAP_SCOPE_BASE) ? "base"
 				: ((scope == LDAP_SCOPE_ONELEVEL) ? "one" : "sub"),
 			infile != NULL ? " pattern" : "",
 			filtpattern );