diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-ldap/bind.c b/servers/slapd/back-ldap/bind.c
index 13fba4a4b0..65de40ae64 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-ldap/bind.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-ldap/bind.c
@@ -347,6 +347,9 @@ retry:;
 			ldap_unbind_ext_s( ld, NULL, NULL );
 			goto error_return;
 		}
+
+		/* in case Start TLS is not critical */
+		rs->sr_err = LDAP_SUCCESS;
 	}
 #endif /* HAVE_TLS */