diff --git a/apps/user_ldap/lib/Group_LDAP.php b/apps/user_ldap/lib/Group_LDAP.php
index 9cedbbadf5..be2fbecad8 100644
--- a/apps/user_ldap/lib/Group_LDAP.php
+++ b/apps/user_ldap/lib/Group_LDAP.php
@@ -136,10 +136,6 @@ class Group_LDAP extends BackendUtility implements GroupInterface, IGroupLDAP, I
 
 		//usually, LDAP attributes are said to be case insensitive. But there are exceptions of course.
 		$members = $this->_groupMembers($groupDN);
-		if (!is_array($members) || count($members) === 0) {
-			$this->access->connection->writeToCache($cacheKey, false);
-			return false;
-		}
 
 		//extra work if we don't get back user DNs
 		switch ($this->ldapGroupMemberAssocAttr) {
@@ -186,6 +182,11 @@ class Group_LDAP extends BackendUtility implements GroupInterface, IGroupLDAP, I
 				break;
 		}
 
+		if (count($members) === 0) {
+			$this->access->connection->writeToCache($cacheKey, false);
+			return false;
+		}
+
 		$isInGroup = in_array($userDN, $members);
 		$this->access->connection->writeToCache($cacheKey, $isInGroup);
 		$this->access->connection->writeToCache($cacheKeyMembers, $members);