diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-ldap/search.c b/servers/slapd/back-ldap/search.c
index 467c5642f9..9f5fcf746c 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-ldap/search.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-ldap/search.c
@@ -336,6 +336,7 @@ retry:
 				rs->sr_flags = 0;
 				rs->sr_err = LDAP_SUCCESS;
 				rc = rs->sr_err = send_search_entry( op, rs );
+				rs->sr_entry = NULL;
 				if ( !BER_BVISNULL( &ent.e_name ) ) {
 					assert( ent.e_name.bv_val != bdn.bv_val );
 					op->o_tmpfree( ent.e_name.bv_val, op->o_tmpmemctx );