diff --git a/modules/ldap/util_ldap.c b/modules/ldap/util_ldap.c
index d771fc8ef5..7bf7213673 100644
--- a/modules/ldap/util_ldap.c
+++ b/modules/ldap/util_ldap.c
@@ -2401,6 +2401,10 @@ static const char *util_ldap_set_referral_hop_limit(cmd_parms *cmd,
 
     dc->ReferralHopLimit = atol(hop_limit);
 
+    if (dc->ReferralHopLimit <= 0) { 
+        return "LDAPReferralHopLimit must be greater than zero (Use 'LDAPReferrals Off' to disable referral chasing)";
+    }
+
     ap_log_error(APLOG_MARK, APLOG_DEBUG, 0, cmd->server,
                  "LDAP: Limit chased referrals to maximum of %d hops.",
                  dc->ReferralHopLimit);