diff --git a/lib/Net/LDAP3.php b/lib/Net/LDAP3.php
index 0fe78e8046dd9985b717eeb29f9c63cf47637a25..ca3081df56b5a37d76049cd2561cad963b0c4836 100644
--- a/lib/Net/LDAP3.php
+++ b/lib/Net/LDAP3.php
@@ -1608,6 +1608,8 @@ class Net_LDAP3
      */
     public function search($base_dn, $filter = '(objectclass=*)', $scope = 'sub', $attrs = array('dn'), $props = array(), $count_only = false)
     {
+        $controls = null;
+
         if (!$this->conn) {
             $this->_debug("No active connection for " . __CLASS__ . "::" . __FUNCTION__);
             return false;