diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 83eb769687..8cf4d6ee31 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -1567,7 +1567,7 @@ elif test $ol_enable_ldbm = no ; then
 	fi
 
 	if test $ol_enable_passwd = no -a \
-		$ol_enable_perl = no -a
+		$ol_enable_perl = no -a \
 		$ol_enable_shell = no ; then
 		{ echo "configure: error: slapd requires a backend" 1>&2; exit 1; }
 	fi
diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index d9e69cc52f..8f39b35cb8 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ elif test $ol_enable_ldbm = no ; then
 	fi
 
 	if test $ol_enable_passwd = no -a \
-		$ol_enable_perl = no -a
+		$ol_enable_perl = no -a \
 		$ol_enable_shell = no ; then
 		AC_MSG_ERROR([slapd requires a backend])
 	fi