diff --git a/servers/slapd/tools/mimic.c b/servers/slapd/tools/mimic.c
index b5ec03cf09..b5d67cf970 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/tools/mimic.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/tools/mimic.c
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ int slap_sasl_destroy(void)
 
 char * slap_sasl_secprops( const char *in )
 {
-	return "";
+	return NULL;
 }