op->o_req_dn = op->o_req_ndn;
 
        op->o_bd = select_backend( &op->o_req_ndn, 0 );
+       if ( op->o_bd == NULL ) {
+               send_ldap_error( op, rs, LDAP_NO_SUCH_OBJECT,
+                       "no global superior knowledge" );
+               goto done;
+       }
+
        if ( !SLAP_DYNAMIC( op->o_bd ) ) {
                send_ldap_error( op, rs, LDAP_UNAVAILABLE_CRITICAL_EXTENSION,
                        "backend does not support dynamic directory services" );
 
        op->o_req_dn = op->o_req_ndn;
 
        op->o_bd = select_backend( &op->o_req_ndn, 0 );
+       if ( op->o_bd == NULL ) {
+               send_ldap_error( op, rs, LDAP_NO_SUCH_OBJECT,
+                       "no global superior knowledge" );
+       }
        rs->sr_err = backend_check_restrictions( op, rs,
                (struct berval *)&pcache_exop_QUERY_DELETE );
        if ( rs->sr_err != LDAP_SUCCESS ) {