diff --git a/lam/lib/account.inc b/lam/lib/account.inc
index d43a17b9..515b0990 100644
--- a/lam/lib/account.inc
+++ b/lam/lib/account.inc
@@ -1358,7 +1358,7 @@ function getExtendedLDAPErrorMessage($server) {
 	$ldapMsg = null;
 	ldap_get_option($server, LDAP_OPT_ERROR_STRING, $ldapMsg);
 	if (empty($ldapMsg)) {
-		return null;
+		return ldap_error($server);
 	}
 	return $ldapMsg;
 }