diff --git a/Lib/slapdtest/_slapdtest.py b/Lib/slapdtest/_slapdtest.py
index 2856a84..7e230c8 100644
--- a/Lib/slapdtest/_slapdtest.py
+++ b/Lib/slapdtest/_slapdtest.py
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ def __init__(self):
             self.ldapi_uri = "ldapi://%s" % quote_plus(ldapi_path)
             self.default_ldap_uri = self.ldapi_uri
             # use SASL/EXTERNAL via LDAPI when invoking OpenLDAP CLI tools
-            self.cli_sasl_external = True
+            self.cli_sasl_external = ldap.SASL_AVAIL
         else:
             self.ldapi_uri = None
             self.default_ldap_uri = self.ldap_uri