diff --git a/servers/slapd/slapi/slapi_utils.c b/servers/slapd/slapi/slapi_utils.c
index d24be09b82..928a5e507b 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/slapi/slapi_utils.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/slapi/slapi_utils.c
@@ -3234,6 +3234,8 @@ LDAP *slapi_ldap_init( char *ldaphost, int ldapport, int secure, int shared )
 
 	if ( rc > 0 && rc < size ) {
 		rc = ldap_initialize( &ld, url );
+	} else {
+		ld = NULL;
 	}
 
 	slapi_ch_free_string( &url );