diff --git a/source4/dsdb/samdb/ldb_modules/util.c b/source4/dsdb/samdb/ldb_modules/util.c
index b343828d508..df70c8ed886 100644
--- a/source4/dsdb/samdb/ldb_modules/util.c
+++ b/source4/dsdb/samdb/ldb_modules/util.c
@@ -887,6 +887,7 @@ int dsdb_module_reference_dn(struct ldb_module *module, TALLOC_CTX *mem_ctx, str
 	ret = dsdb_module_search_dn(module, mem_ctx, &res, base, attrs,
 	                            DSDB_FLAG_NEXT_MODULE | DSDB_SEARCH_SHOW_EXTENDED_DN, parent);
 	if (ret != LDB_SUCCESS) {
+		*dn = NULL;
 		return ret;
 	}