/* get entry */
rc = bdb_dn2entry( op, NULL, &op->o_req_ndn, &ei, 1, locker, &lock );
- e = ei->bei_e;
+ /* bdb_dn2entry() may legally leave ei == NULL
+ * if rc != 0 and rc != DB_NOTFOUND
+ */
+ if ( ei ) {
+ e = ei->bei_e;
+ }
+
switch(rc) {
case DB_NOTFOUND:
case 0: