diff --git a/ldapuserdir/ldapuserdir.py b/ldapuserdir/ldapuserdir.py
index 95431a0..9a0d633 100644
--- a/ldapuserdir/ldapuserdir.py
+++ b/ldapuserdir/ldapuserdir.py
@@ -101,6 +101,10 @@ class LdapUserDir(object):
                         attrlist=None, attrsonly=0, recon_attempts = 2):
         """ wrapper of standard ldap.search_s synchronous search that
         tries to reconnect
+
+        Implemented that myself since the use of the automatic reconnect
+        available (ReconnectLDAPObject) led to a connection that returned
+        empty answers. This way I have more control.
         """
         attempts = 0
         ok = False
@@ -113,12 +117,27 @@ class LdapUserDir(object):
             except ldap.SERVER_DOWN:
                 self.logger.warning("Got ldap server down: Reconnecting (try %s)"
                                     % attempts)
+                try:
+                    del self._ldap
+                except Exception, err:
+                    self.logger.warning("failed to delete LDAP object: %s"
+                                        % str(err))
+
+                time.sleep(1)
+
                 try:
                     self._ldap = ldap.initialize(self.serverurl, trace_level=0,
                                                  trace_file=sys.stderr)
                 except ldap.SERVER_DOWN:
-                    self.logger.warning("ldap initialization error")
-                    time.sleep(1)
+                    self.logger.warning("ldap initialization error" +
+                                        ", server down (server: %s)" %
+                                        self.serverurl
+                                        + ": %s" % str(err))
+                except Exception, err:
+                    self.logger.warning("ldap initialization error" +
+                                        " (server: %s)" %
+                                        self.serverurl
+                                        + ": %s" % str(err))
                     
                 if attempts >= recon_attempts:
                     raise