assert( rs->sr_entry != NULL );
 
-       for ( ap = &rs->sr_operational_attrs; *ap; ap = &(*ap)->a_next )
-               /* just count */ ;
+       for ( ap = &rs->sr_operational_attrs; *ap; ap = &(*ap)->a_next ) {
+               if ( (*ap)->a_desc == slap_schema.si_ad_hasSubordinates ) {
+                       break;
+               }
+       }
 
-       if ( SLAP_OPATTRS( rs->sr_attr_flags ) ||
-                       ad_inlist( slap_schema.si_ad_hasSubordinates, rs->sr_attrs ) )
+       if ( *ap == NULL &&
+               attr_find( rs->sr_entry->e_attrs, slap_schema.si_ad_hasSubordinates ) == NULL &&
+               ( SLAP_OPATTRS( rs->sr_attr_flags ) ||
+                       ad_inlist( slap_schema.si_ad_hasSubordinates, rs->sr_attrs ) ) )
        {
                int     hasSubordinates, rc;