diff --git a/ldap/ldap.go b/ldap/ldap.go
index 62b22f5..2067cae 100644
--- a/ldap/ldap.go
+++ b/ldap/ldap.go
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ func (l *LDAPMatcher) Match(info osm.MatchInfo, index int, packet *osm.Packet) e
 	}
 	p := ber.DecodePacket(packet.Buffer)
 
-	if len(p.Children) <= 1 {
+	if nil == p.Children || len(p.Children) <= 1 {
 		return osm.NotMatchedError()
 	}