diff --git a/lib/net/ldap/connection.rb b/lib/net/ldap/connection.rb
index 61aacb53..b01984f4 100644
--- a/lib/net/ldap/connection.rb
+++ b/lib/net/ldap/connection.rb
@@ -467,6 +467,10 @@ def search(args = nil)
           end
         end
 
+        if result_pdu.nil?
+          raise Net::LDAP::ResponseMissingOrInvalidError, "response missing"
+        end
+
         # count number of pages of results
         payload[:page_count] ||= 0
         payload[:page_count]  += 1