break;
        case SLAPI_MODIFY_MODS: {
                LDAPMod **mods = NULL;
-               Modifications *ml;
+               Modifications *ml = NULL;
 
                pblock_get_default( pb, param, (void **)&mods );
                if ( mods == NULL && pb->pb_intop == 0 ) {
                        case LDAP_REQ_MODRDN:
                                ml = pb->pb_op->orr_modlist;
                                break;
-                       defaulat:
+                       default:
                                rc = PBLOCK_ERROR;
                                break;
                        }
-                       mods = slapi_int_modifications2ldapmods( ml );
-                       pblock_set_default( pb, param, (void *)mods );
+                       if ( rc != PBLOCK_ERROR ) {
+                               mods = slapi_int_modifications2ldapmods( ml );
+                               pblock_set_default( pb, param, (void *)mods );
+                       }
                }
                *((LDAPMod ***)value) = mods;
                break;