diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-bdb/modrdn.c b/servers/slapd/back-bdb/modrdn.c
index bc13df5ef6..117cb05c25 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-bdb/modrdn.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-bdb/modrdn.c
@@ -739,6 +739,8 @@ retry:	/* transaction retry */
 		} else {
 			rs->sr_err = LDAP_X_NO_OPERATION;
 			ltid = NULL;
+			/* Only free attrs if they were dup'd.  */
+			if ( dummy.e_attrs == e->e_attrs ) dummy.e_attrs = NULL;
 			goto return_results;
 		}