diff --git a/servers/slapd/controls.c b/servers/slapd/controls.c
index b8edd39bc545e6110b50a97a4b29e4de562c7117..16b5806331a87ba4c858eb041354f5eb7e4e2cbf 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/controls.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/controls.c
@@ -1660,8 +1660,8 @@ static int parseDomainScope (
 		return LDAP_PROTOCOL_ERROR;
 	}
 
-	if ( BER_BVISNULL( &ctrl->ldctl_value )) {
-		rs->sr_text = "domainScope control value not empty";
+	if ( !BER_BVISNULL( &ctrl->ldctl_value )) {
+		rs->sr_text = "domainScope control value not absent";
 		return LDAP_PROTOCOL_ERROR;
 	}