diff --git a/lookup_plugins/ldap.py b/lookup_plugins/ldap.py
index 3a77bfb3..05965e6a 100644
--- a/lookup_plugins/ldap.py
+++ b/lookup_plugins/ldap.py
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ class LookupModule(LookupBase):
             return int(result['description'][0])
         elif terms[0] == 'role':
             role = terms[1]
-            query_id = self.base.search(f"ou=hosts,{self.base_dn}", ldap.SCOPE_ONELEVEL, f"description={role}")
+            query_id = self.base.search(f"ou=hosts,{self.base_dn}", ldap.SCOPE_ONELEVEL, f"description=role:{role}")
             result = self.base.result(query_id)
             result = [cn.decode('utf-8') for res in result[1] for cn in res[1]['cn']]
         return result