diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-bdb/id2entry.c b/servers/slapd/back-bdb/id2entry.c
index 6a97c0e27c..492af33d7c 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-bdb/id2entry.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-bdb/id2entry.c
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ dn2entry_retry:
 		ldap_pvt_thread_yield();
 		goto dn2entry_retry;
 	default:
-		boi->boi_err = rc;
+		if ( boi ) boi->boi_err = rc;
 		if ( free_lock_id ) {
 			LOCK_ID_FREE( bdb->bi_dbenv, locker );
 		}