diff --git a/servers/slapd/init.c b/servers/slapd/init.c
index 510f58b0d0..b8e676056a 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/init.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/init.c
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ int slap_startup( Backend *be )
 	if( rc == 0 ) {
 		Slapi_PBlock *pb = slapi_pblock_new();
 
-		if ( slapi_int_call_plugins( NULL, SLAPI_PLUGIN_START_FN, pb ) < 0 ) {
+		if ( slapi_int_call_plugins( frontendDB, SLAPI_PLUGIN_START_FN, pb ) < 0 ) {
 			rc = -1;
 		}
 		slapi_pblock_destroy( pb );
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ int slap_shutdown( Backend *be )
 
 #ifdef LDAP_SLAPI
 	pb = slapi_pblock_new();
-	(void) slapi_int_call_plugins( NULL, SLAPI_PLUGIN_CLOSE_FN, pb );
+	(void) slapi_int_call_plugins( frontendDB, SLAPI_PLUGIN_CLOSE_FN, pb );
 	slapi_pblock_destroy( pb );
 #endif /* LDAP_SLAPI */