diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/group.c b/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/group.c
index 3a4dde4486..ac7f45ce33 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/group.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/group.c
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ ldbm_back_group(
 		target->e_ndn, 0, 0 ); 
 #endif
 
-	if (strcmp(target->e_ndn, gr_ndn->bv_val) == 0) {
+	if (dn_match(&target->e_nname, gr_ndn)) {
 		/* we already have a LOCKED copy of the entry */
 		e = target;
 #ifdef NEW_LOGGING