diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/modrdn.c b/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/modrdn.c
index 906e483ff8..8af5bbbc7f 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/modrdn.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/modrdn.c
@@ -336,8 +336,10 @@ ldbm_back_modrdn(
 	rc = 0;
 
 return_results:
-	if( new_dn != NULL ) free( new_dn );
-	if( new_ndn != NULL ) free( new_ndn );
+	/* NOTE:
+	 * new_dn and new_ndn are not deallocated because they are used by
+	 * the cache entry.
+	 */
 	if( p_dn != NULL ) free( p_dn );
 	if( p_ndn != NULL ) free( p_ndn );