diff --git a/tests/progs/slapd-read.c b/tests/progs/slapd-read.c
index c938875ec4..dd5e692d07 100644
--- a/tests/progs/slapd-read.c
+++ b/tests/progs/slapd-read.c
@@ -343,6 +343,7 @@ retry:;
 				case LDAP_UNAVAILABLE:
 					if ( do_retry > 0 ) {
 						ldap_unbind_ext( ld, NULL, NULL );
+						ld = NULL;
 						do_retry--;
 						if ( delay != 0 ) {
 						    sleep( delay );
diff --git a/tests/progs/slapd-search.c b/tests/progs/slapd-search.c
index 7ad90d20e4..afda1768b5 100644
--- a/tests/progs/slapd-search.c
+++ b/tests/progs/slapd-search.c
@@ -373,6 +373,7 @@ retry:;
 				case LDAP_UNAVAILABLE:
 					if ( do_retry > 0 ) {
 						ldap_unbind_ext( ld, NULL, NULL );
+						ld = NULL;
 						do_retry--;
 						if ( delay != 0 ) {
 						    sleep( delay );