diff --git a/servers/slapd/syncrepl.c b/servers/slapd/syncrepl.c
index 7b49e6eda7..00e2cfeb04 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/syncrepl.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/syncrepl.c
@@ -3782,6 +3782,9 @@ add_syncrepl(
 				else
 					rc = -1;
 			}
+		} else {
+			/* mirrormode still needs to see this flag in tool mode */
+			rc = config_sync_shadow( c ) ? -1 : 0;
 		}
 	}