diff --git a/source4/dns_server/dnsserver_common.c b/source4/dns_server/dnsserver_common.c
index 984c65dbdf8..71aeee8169d 100644
--- a/source4/dns_server/dnsserver_common.c
+++ b/source4/dns_server/dnsserver_common.c
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ static struct ldb_parse_tree *build_equality_operation(
 	value = &el->u.equality.value;
 	length = (add_asterix) ? size + 2 : size + 1;
 	value->data = talloc_zero_array(el, uint8_t, length);
-	if (el == NULL) {
+	if (value->data == NULL) {
 		DBG_ERR("Unable to allocate value->data\n");
 		TALLOC_FREE(el);
 		return NULL;