diff --git a/servers/slapd/value.c b/servers/slapd/value.c
index c33ae1afc5..fa353e6b63 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/value.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/value.c
@@ -712,6 +712,7 @@ ordered_value_add(
 		for ( ap=&e->e_attrs; *ap; ap = &(*ap)->a_next ) ;
 		a = attr_alloc( ad );
 		*ap = a;
+		a->a_flags |= SLAP_ATTR_SORTED_VALS;
 	}
 	anum = a->a_numvals;