diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-ldap/search.c b/servers/slapd/back-ldap/search.c
index 480344415e..7e1af12a9f 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-ldap/search.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-ldap/search.c
@@ -929,7 +929,7 @@ retry:
 
 	/* TODO: timeout? */
 	rc = ldap_pvt_search_s( lc->lc_ld, ndn->bv_val, LDAP_SCOPE_BASE, filter,
-				attrp, 0, ctrls, NULL,
+				attrp, LDAP_DEREF_NEVER, ctrls, NULL,
 				NULL, LDAP_NO_LIMIT, 0, &result );
 	if ( rc != LDAP_SUCCESS ) {
 		if ( rc == LDAP_SERVER_DOWN && do_retry ) {