diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/delete.c b/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/delete.c
index 32317c922f..7e0008ba80 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/delete.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/delete.c
@@ -93,6 +93,8 @@ ldbm_back_delete(
 
 	/* free entry and writer lock */
 	cache_return_entry_w( &li->li_cache, e );
+	if ( p )
+		cache_return_entry_r( &li->li_cache, p );
 
 	send_ldap_result( conn, op, LDAP_SUCCESS, "", "" );