diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/springframework/ldap/support/LdapNameBuilder.java b/core/src/main/java/org/springframework/ldap/support/LdapNameBuilder.java
index 95e38eab6c..5dba128157 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/springframework/ldap/support/LdapNameBuilder.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/springframework/ldap/support/LdapNameBuilder.java
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ public static LdapNameBuilder newInstance(String name) {
      */
     public LdapNameBuilder add(String key, Object value) {
         Assert.hasText(key, "key must not be blank");
-        Assert.notNull(key, "value must not be null");
+        Assert.notNull(value, "value must not be null");
 
         try {
             ldapName.add(new Rdn(key, value));