diff --git a/clients/tools/ldapsearch.c b/clients/tools/ldapsearch.c
index 8de757e1aa..2a569795c4 100644
--- a/clients/tools/ldapsearch.c
+++ b/clients/tools/ldapsearch.c
@@ -620,7 +620,7 @@ main( int argc, char **argv )
 		filtpattern = strdup( argv[optind++] );
 	}
 
-	if ( (argv[optind] != NULL) && (sortattr == NULL || *sortattr == '\0') ) {
+	if ( argv[optind] != NULL ) {
 		attrs = &argv[optind];
 	}