diff --git a/directory/java-sdk/ldapjdk/netscape/ldap/LDAPAttribute.java b/directory/java-sdk/ldapjdk/netscape/ldap/LDAPAttribute.java
index 30ae6906064c..084722f7e473 100644
--- a/directory/java-sdk/ldapjdk/netscape/ldap/LDAPAttribute.java
+++ b/directory/java-sdk/ldapjdk/netscape/ldap/LDAPAttribute.java
@@ -385,7 +385,7 @@ public class LDAPAttribute {
             return;
         int ind = -1;
         for (int i=0; i<values.length; i++) {
-            if (!equalValue(attrValue, (byte[])values[i])) {
+            if (equalValue(attrValue, (byte[])values[i])) {
                 ind = i;
                  break;
             }