diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-meta/search.c b/servers/slapd/back-meta/search.c
index 839f53a6ee..a2812a1d53 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-meta/search.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-meta/search.c
@@ -82,10 +82,10 @@ meta_search_dobind_init(
 	int			rc;
 	int			nretries = 1;
 
-	Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_TRACE, "%s >>> meta_search_dobind_init[%d]\n", op->o_log_prefix, candidate, 0 );
-
 	meta_search_candidate_t	retcode;
 
+	Debug( LDAP_DEBUG_TRACE, "%s >>> meta_search_dobind_init[%d]\n", op->o_log_prefix, candidate, 0 );
+
 	/*
 	 * all the targets are already bound as pseudoroot
 	 */