diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-bdb/delete.c b/servers/slapd/back-bdb/delete.c
index f66baf0d9b..c9fdba93d6 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-bdb/delete.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-bdb/delete.c
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ txnReturn:
 	ctrls[num_ctrls] = 0;
 
 	/* allocate CSN */
-	if ( BER_BVISEMPTY( &op->o_csn )) {
+	if ( BER_BVISNULL( &op->o_csn ) ) {
 		struct berval csn;
 		char csnbuf[LDAP_LUTIL_CSNSTR_BUFSIZE];