diff --git a/shelldap b/shelldap
index 24943bd..4863056 100755
--- a/shelldap
+++ b/shelldap
@@ -1651,7 +1651,7 @@ sub run_passwd
 	}
 
 	# convert given path to DN
-	$self->path_to_dn( $dn );
+	$dn = $self->path_to_dn( $dn );
 
 	my $s = $self->search( { base => $dn, scope => 'base' } );
 	if ( $s->{'code'} ) {