diff --git a/servers/slapd/syncrepl.c b/servers/slapd/syncrepl.c
index db3e5ea22d..abf24f581c 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/syncrepl.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/syncrepl.c
@@ -2027,7 +2027,6 @@ do_syncrepl(
 	if ( !si->si_schemachecking )
 		op->o_no_schema_check = 1;
 
-reload:
 	/* Establish session, do search */
 	if ( !si->si_ld ) {
 		si->si_refreshDelete = 0;
@@ -2066,7 +2065,8 @@ reload:
 		op->o_ndn = op->o_bd->be_rootndn;
 		rc = do_syncrep2( op, si );
 		if ( rc == LDAP_SYNC_REFRESH_REQUIRED )	{
-			goto reload;
+			/* give up but schedule an immedite retry */
+			rc = SYNC_PAUSED;
 		}
 
 deleted: