diff --git a/servers/slapd/schema_init.c b/servers/slapd/schema_init.c
index 164c348b8c..253cf9790e 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/schema_init.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/schema_init.c
@@ -389,7 +389,7 @@ attributeCertificateValidate( Syntax *syntax, struct berval *in )
 	if ( tag != LBER_SEQUENCE ) return LDAP_INVALID_SYNTAX;
 	ber_skip_data( ber, len );
 
-	ber_peek_tag( ber, &len );
+	tag = ber_peek_tag( ber, &len );
 
 	if ( tag == LBER_BITSTRING ) {	/* issuerUniqueID */
 		tag = ber_skip_tag( ber, &len );