diff --git a/servers/slapd/schema_init.c b/servers/slapd/schema_init.c
index 8b215bab94..0ad467af24 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/schema_init.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/schema_init.c
@@ -3679,7 +3679,7 @@ numericStringNormalize(
 		}
 	}
 
-	assert( newval->bv_val =< p );
+	assert( newval->bv_val <= p );
 	assert( q <= p );
 
 	/* null terminate */