diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-bdb/modify.c b/servers/slapd/back-bdb/modify.c
index d342febff2..e680de5ef2 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-bdb/modify.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-bdb/modify.c
@@ -345,8 +345,6 @@ retry:	/* transaction retry */
 	rs->sr_err = bdb_dn2entry( op, ltid, &op->o_req_ndn, &ei, 1,
 		locker, &lock );
 
-	e = ei->bei_e;
-
 	if ( rs->sr_err != 0 ) {
 		Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_TRACE,
 			LDAP_XSTRING(bdb_modify) ": dn2entry failed (%d)\n",
@@ -380,6 +378,8 @@ retry:	/* transaction retry */
 		}
 	}
 
+	e = ei->bei_e;
+
 	/* acquire and lock entry */
 	/* FIXME: dn2entry() should return non-glue entry */
 	if (( rs->sr_err == DB_NOTFOUND ) ||