diff --git a/src/ioc/db/dbAccess.c b/src/ioc/db/dbAccess.c
index 2b04280c0..7180259f5 100644
--- a/src/ioc/db/dbAccess.c
+++ b/src/ioc/db/dbAccess.c
@@ -694,7 +694,7 @@ void dbInitEntryFromAddr(struct dbAddr *paddr, DBENTRY *pdbentry)
     pdbentry->precnode = ppvt->recnode;
     pdbentry->pflddes = paddr->pfldDes;
     pdbentry->pfield = paddr->pfield;
-    pdbentry->indfield = -1; /* invalid */
+    pdbentry->indfield = paddr->pfldDes->indRecordType;
 }
 
 void dbInitEntryFromRecord(struct dbCommon *prec, DBENTRY *pdbentry)
@@ -706,7 +706,6 @@ void dbInitEntryFromRecord(struct dbCommon *prec, DBENTRY *pdbentry)
     pdbentry->pdbbase = pdbbase;
     pdbentry->precordType = prec->rdes;
     pdbentry->precnode = ppvt->recnode;
-    pdbentry->indfield = -1; /* invalid */
 }
 
 long dbValueSize(short dbr_type)
diff --git a/src/ioc/db/test/dbStaticTest.c b/src/ioc/db/test/dbStaticTest.c
index 5f5367722..589134d50 100644
--- a/src/ioc/db/test/dbStaticTest.c
+++ b/src/ioc/db/test/dbStaticTest.c
@@ -63,13 +63,10 @@ static void testAddr2Entry(const char *pv)
     testOk1(entry.pflddes==entry2.pflddes);
     testOk1(entry.precnode==entry2.precnode);
     testOk1(entry.pfield==entry2.pfield);
-    testOk1(entry2.indfield==-1);
+    testOk1(entry.indfield==entry2.indfield);
     testOk1(!entry2.pinfonode);
     testOk1(!entry2.message);
 
-    /* no way to look this up, so not set */
-    entry.indfield = -1;
-
     testOk1(memcmp(&entry, &entry2, sizeof(entry))==0);
 
     dbFinishEntry(&entry);
@@ -103,13 +100,10 @@ static void testRec2Entry(const char *recname)
     testOk1(entry.pflddes==entry2.pflddes);
     testOk1(entry.precnode==entry2.precnode);
     testOk1(entry.pfield==entry2.pfield);
-    testOk1(entry2.indfield==-1);
+    testOk1(entry.indfield==entry2.indfield);
     testOk1(!entry2.pinfonode);
     testOk1(!entry2.message);
 
-    /* no way to look this up, so not set */
-    entry.indfield = -1;
-
     testOk1(memcmp(&entry, &entry2, sizeof(entry))==0);
 
     dbFinishEntry(&entry);