diff --git a/servers/slapd/proto-slap.h b/servers/slapd/proto-slap.h
index 08b9668d32..79d074b532 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/proto-slap.h
+++ b/servers/slapd/proto-slap.h
@@ -296,6 +296,9 @@ LDAP_SLAPD_F (void) ava_free LDAP_P((
 /*
  * backend.c
  */
+
+#define be_match( be1, be2 )	( (be1) == (be2) || (be1)->be_nsuffix == (be2)->be_nsuffix )
+
 LDAP_SLAPD_F (int) backend_init LDAP_P((void));
 LDAP_SLAPD_F (int) backend_add LDAP_P((BackendInfo *aBackendInfo));
 LDAP_SLAPD_F (int) backend_num LDAP_P((Backend *be));