diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-mdb/dn2entry.c b/servers/slapd/back-mdb/dn2entry.c
index 26bf846437..7166ab6e56 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-mdb/dn2entry.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-mdb/dn2entry.c
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ mdb_dn2entry(
 	MDB_cursor *mc;
 
 	Debug(LDAP_DEBUG_TRACE, "mdb_dn2entry(\"%s\")\n",
-		dn->bv_val, 0, 0 );
+		dn->bv_val ? dn->bv_val : "", 0, 0 );
 
 	*e = NULL;