diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/modrdn.c b/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/modrdn.c
index d8066cdaf21c73a99179c4d02b2b9cf627bced8f..11b163613e0a7d2ab2e9efa80d80e596d301c64d 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/modrdn.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-ldbm/modrdn.c
@@ -444,6 +444,7 @@ ldbm_back_modrdn(
 	}
 
 	(void) cache_delete_entry( &li->li_cache, e );
+	rc = MUST_DESTROY;
 
 	/* XXX: there is no going back! */
 
@@ -473,7 +474,6 @@ ldbm_back_modrdn(
 	    
 	    goto return_results;
 	}
-	rc = MUST_DESTROY;
 	
 	(void) cache_update_entry( &li->li_cache, e );