diff --git a/servers/slapd/slapcommon.c b/servers/slapd/slapcommon.c
index 82b60dbe97..0ef4b4e1f1 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/slapcommon.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/slapcommon.c
@@ -580,7 +580,8 @@ startup:;
 	mal_leaktrace(1);
 #endif
 
-	if ( !dryrun && slap_startup( be ) ) {
+	/* slapdn doesn't specify a backend to startup */
+	if ( !dryrun && tool != SLAPDN && slap_startup( be ) ) {
 		switch ( tool ) {
 		case SLAPTEST:
 			fprintf( stderr, "slap_startup failed "