diff --git a/servers/slapd/connection.c b/servers/slapd/connection.c
index dedadbc338..0ff5d2a8cd 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/connection.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/connection.c
@@ -794,6 +794,7 @@ int connection_read(ber_socket_t s)
 			       "connection_read(%d): TLS accept error error=%d id=%ld, closing.\n",
 			       s, rc, c->c_connid );
 
+			c->c_needs_tls_accept = 0;
 			/* connections_mutex and c_mutex are locked */
 			connection_closing( c );
 			connection_close( c );