diff --git a/nipap/nipap/authlib.py b/nipap/nipap/authlib.py
index 3472c3db5..d02ed8f84 100644
--- a/nipap/nipap/authlib.py
+++ b/nipap/nipap/authlib.py
@@ -387,7 +387,8 @@ def authenticate(self):
         try:
             # Create separate connection for search?
             if self._ldap_search_conn is not None:
-                self._ldap_search_conn.simple_bind(self._ldap_search_binddn, self._ldap_search_password)
+                self._ldap_search_conn.simple_bind_s(
+                    self._ldap_search_binddn, self._ldap_search_password)
                 search_conn = self._ldap_search_conn
             else:
                 search_conn = self._ldap_conn