diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-bdb/modrdn.c b/servers/slapd/back-bdb/modrdn.c
index f6ca46da1a..bc7f6dc0cc 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-bdb/modrdn.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-bdb/modrdn.c
@@ -187,14 +187,15 @@ retry:	/* transaction retry */
 		goto done;
 	}
 
+	/* check write on old entry */
+	rc = access_allowed( be, conn, op, e, entry, NULL, ACL_WRITE, NULL );
+
 	switch( opinfo.boi_err ) {
 	case DB_LOCK_DEADLOCK:
 	case DB_LOCK_NOTGRANTED:
 		goto retry;
 	}
 
-	/* check write on old entry */
-	rc = access_allowed( be, conn, op, e, entry, NULL, ACL_WRITE, NULL );
 	if ( ! rc ) {
 #ifdef NEW_LOGGING
 		LDAP_LOG ( OPERATION, ERR,