diff --git a/libraries/libldap/open.c b/libraries/libldap/open.c
index 1289ced907..7fe9f9c293 100644
--- a/libraries/libldap/open.c
+++ b/libraries/libldap/open.c
@@ -179,6 +179,9 @@ ldap_create( LDAP **ldp )
 	ld->ld_options.ldo_defludp = NULL;
 	ld->ld_options.ldo_conn_cbs = NULL;
 
+	ld->ld_options.ldo_defbase = gopts->ldo_defbase
+		? LDAP_STRDUP( gopts->ldo_defbase ) : NULL;
+
 #ifdef HAVE_CYRUS_SASL
 	ld->ld_options.ldo_def_sasl_mech = gopts->ldo_def_sasl_mech
 		? LDAP_STRDUP( gopts->ldo_def_sasl_mech ) : NULL;