diff --git a/clients/tools/ldapmodify.c b/clients/tools/ldapmodify.c
index f71cc86fe9..105d92cb1b 100644
--- a/clients/tools/ldapmodify.c
+++ b/clients/tools/ldapmodify.c
@@ -1128,7 +1128,9 @@ static int process_response(
 	}
 
 	if( ldap_msgtype( res ) != LDAP_RES_INTERMEDIATE ) {
-		return ldap_result2error( ld, res, 1 );
+		rc = ldap_result2error( ld, res, 1 );
+		ldap_perror( ld, opstr );
+		return rc;
 	}
 
 #ifdef LDAP_GROUP_TRANSACTION