diff --git a/servers/slapd/attr.c b/servers/slapd/attr.c
index 5e0b3e6e99..cdfb3a2fe5 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/attr.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/attr.c
@@ -46,7 +46,9 @@ attr_free( Attribute *a )
 	if ( a->a_nvals && a->a_nvals != a->a_vals ) {
 		ber_bvarray_free( a->a_nvals );
 	}
-	ber_bvarray_free( a->a_vals );
+	if ( a->a_vals != &slap_dummy_bv ) {
+		ber_bvarray_free( a->a_vals );
+	}
 	free( a );
 }