diff --git a/servers/slapd/slapi/slapi_utils.c b/servers/slapd/slapi/slapi_utils.c
index 9a528c4450..2fad26eec9 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/slapi/slapi_utils.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/slapi/slapi_utils.c
@@ -1401,6 +1401,8 @@ slapi_filter_dup( Slapi_Filter *filter )
 		      pFilter = pFilter->f_next, ppF = &f->f_next )
 		{
 			*ppF = slapi_filter_dup( pFilter );
+			if ( *ppF == NULL )
+				break;
 		}
 		break;
 	}