diff --git a/internal/controller/supervisorconfig/activedirectoryupstreamwatcher/active_directory_upstream_watcher.go b/internal/controller/supervisorconfig/activedirectoryupstreamwatcher/active_directory_upstream_watcher.go
index 27357bfe..6f83699b 100644
--- a/internal/controller/supervisorconfig/activedirectoryupstreamwatcher/active_directory_upstream_watcher.go
+++ b/internal/controller/supervisorconfig/activedirectoryupstreamwatcher/active_directory_upstream_watcher.go
@@ -81,6 +81,45 @@ func (s *activeDirectoryUpstreamGenericLDAPSpec) GroupSearch() upstreamwatchers.
 	return &activeDirectoryUpstreamGenericLDAPGroupSearch{s.activeDirectoryIdentityProvider.Spec.GroupSearch}
 }
 
+func (s *activeDirectoryUpstreamGenericLDAPSpec) DetectAndSetSearchBase(ctx context.Context, config *upstreamldap.ProviderConfig) *v1alpha1.Condition {
+	config.GroupSearch.Base = s.activeDirectoryIdentityProvider.Spec.GroupSearch.Base
+	config.UserSearch.Base = s.activeDirectoryIdentityProvider.Spec.UserSearch.Base
+	if config.GroupSearch.Base != "" && config.UserSearch.Base != "" {
+		// Both were already set in spec so just return; no need to query the RootDSE
+		return &v1alpha1.Condition{
+			Type:    "SearchBaseFound",
+			Status:  v1alpha1.ConditionTrue,
+			Reason:  "Success",
+			Message: "Using search base from ActiveDirectoryIdentityProvider config.",
+		}
+	}
+	ldapProvider := upstreamldap.New(*config)
+	// Query your AD server for the defaultNamingContext to get a DN to use as the search base
+	// when it isn't specified.
+	// https://ldapwiki.com/wiki/DefaultNamingContext
+	defaultNamingContext, err := ldapProvider.SearchForDefaultNamingContext(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return &v1alpha1.Condition{
+			Type:    upstreamwatchers.TypeSearchBaseFound,
+			Status:  v1alpha1.ConditionFalse,
+			Reason:  "Error",
+			Message: fmt.Sprintf(`Error finding search base: %s`, err.Error()),
+		}
+	}
+	if config.UserSearch.Base == "" {
+		config.UserSearch.Base = defaultNamingContext
+	}
+	if config.GroupSearch.Base == "" {
+		config.GroupSearch.Base = defaultNamingContext
+	}
+	return &v1alpha1.Condition{
+		Type:    upstreamwatchers.TypeSearchBaseFound,
+		Status:  v1alpha1.ConditionTrue,
+		Reason:  "Success",
+		Message: "Successfully fetched defaultNamingContext to use as default search base from RootDSE.",
+	}
+}
+
 type activeDirectoryUpstreamGenericLDAPUserSearch struct {
 	userSearch v1alpha1.ActiveDirectoryIdentityProviderUserSearch
 }
diff --git a/internal/controller/supervisorconfig/activedirectoryupstreamwatcher/active_directory_upstream_watcher_test.go b/internal/controller/supervisorconfig/activedirectoryupstreamwatcher/active_directory_upstream_watcher_test.go
index f944c710..20014656 100644
--- a/internal/controller/supervisorconfig/activedirectoryupstreamwatcher/active_directory_upstream_watcher_test.go
+++ b/internal/controller/supervisorconfig/activedirectoryupstreamwatcher/active_directory_upstream_watcher_test.go
@@ -256,11 +256,51 @@ func TestActiveDirectoryUpstreamWatcherControllerSync(t *testing.T) {
 			ObservedGeneration: gen,
 		}
 	}
+
+	searchBaseFoundInRootDSECondition := func(gen int64) v1alpha1.Condition {
+		return v1alpha1.Condition{
+			Type:               "SearchBaseFound",
+			Status:             "True",
+			LastTransitionTime: now,
+			Reason:             "Success",
+			Message:            "Successfully fetched defaultNamingContext to use as default search base from RootDSE.",
+			ObservedGeneration: gen,
+		}
+	}
+
+	searchBaseFoundInConfigCondition := func(gen int64) v1alpha1.Condition {
+		return v1alpha1.Condition{
+			Type:               "SearchBaseFound",
+			Status:             "True",
+			LastTransitionTime: now,
+			Reason:             "Success",
+			Message:            "Using search base from ActiveDirectoryIdentityProvider config.",
+			ObservedGeneration: gen,
+		}
+	}
+
+	searchBaseFoundErrorCondition := func(gen int64, message string) v1alpha1.Condition {
+		return v1alpha1.Condition{
+			Type:               "SearchBaseFound",
+			Status:             "False",
+			LastTransitionTime: now,
+			Reason:             "Error",
+			Message:            message,
+			ObservedGeneration: gen,
+		}
+	}
+
 	allConditionsTrue := func(gen int64, secretVersion string) []v1alpha1.Condition {
 		return []v1alpha1.Condition{
 			bindSecretValidTrueCondition(gen),
 			activeDirectoryConnectionValidTrueCondition(gen, secretVersion),
+			searchBaseFoundInConfigCondition(gen),
 			tlsConfigurationValidLoadedTrueCondition(gen),
+			// TODO should there be a condition when you just get it from the config? is that worth reporting?
+			//  I'm thinking maybe no since it's not a network call or anything... it's just like any other field in the
+			//  spec that we don't bother to report on.
+			//  Although perhaps it would be weirder to have a condition that only sometimes exists? And it's a useful
+			//  way to communicate internally.
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -272,6 +312,34 @@ func TestActiveDirectoryUpstreamWatcherControllerSync(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 
+	expectedDefaultNamingContextSearch := func() *ldap.SearchRequest {
+		request := &ldap.SearchRequest{
+			BaseDN:       "",
+			Scope:        ldap.ScopeBaseObject,
+			DerefAliases: ldap.NeverDerefAliases,
+			SizeLimit:    2,
+			TimeLimit:    90,
+			TypesOnly:    false,
+			Filter:       "(objectClass=*)",
+			Attributes:   []string{"defaultNamingContext"},
+			Controls:     nil, // don't need paging because we set the SizeLimit so small
+		}
+		return request
+	}
+
+	exampleDefaultNamingContext := "dc=default,dc=naming,dc=context,dc=example,dc=com"
+
+	exampleDefaultNamingContextSearchResult := &ldap.SearchResult{
+		Entries: []*ldap.Entry{
+			{
+				DN: "",
+				Attributes: []*ldap.EntryAttribute{
+					ldap.NewEntryAttribute("defaultNamingContext", []string{exampleDefaultNamingContext}),
+				},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
 	tests := []struct {
 		name                     string
 		initialValidatedSettings map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings
@@ -305,7 +373,7 @@ func TestActiveDirectoryUpstreamWatcherControllerSync(t *testing.T) {
 					Conditions: allConditionsTrue(1234, "4242"),
 				},
 			}},
-			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242", LDAPConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS}},
+			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242", LDAPConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS, UserSearchBase: testUserSearchBase, GroupSearchBase: testGroupSearchBase}},
 		},
 		{
 			name:               "missing secret",
@@ -477,6 +545,7 @@ func TestActiveDirectoryUpstreamWatcherControllerSync(t *testing.T) {
 					Conditions: []v1alpha1.Condition{
 						bindSecretValidTrueCondition(1234),
 						activeDirectoryConnectionValidTrueCondition(1234, "4242"),
+						searchBaseFoundInConfigCondition(1234),
 						{
 							Type:               "TLSConfigurationValid",
 							Status:             "True",
@@ -488,7 +557,7 @@ func TestActiveDirectoryUpstreamWatcherControllerSync(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 				},
 			}},
-			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242", LDAPConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS}},
+			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242", LDAPConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS, UserSearchBase: testUserSearchBase, GroupSearchBase: testGroupSearchBase}},
 		},
 		{
 			name: "when TLS connection fails it tries to use StartTLS instead: without a specified port it automatically switches ports",
@@ -542,11 +611,12 @@ func TestActiveDirectoryUpstreamWatcherControllerSync(t *testing.T) {
 								"ldap.example.com", testBindUsername, testSecretName, "4242"),
 							ObservedGeneration: 1234,
 						},
+						searchBaseFoundInConfigCondition(1234),
 						tlsConfigurationValidLoadedTrueCondition(1234),
 					},
 				},
 			}},
-			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242", LDAPConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.StartTLS}},
+			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242", LDAPConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.StartTLS, UserSearchBase: testUserSearchBase, GroupSearchBase: testGroupSearchBase}},
 		},
 		{
 			name: "when TLS connection fails it tries to use StartTLS instead: with a specified port it does not automatically switch ports",
@@ -599,10 +669,12 @@ func TestActiveDirectoryUpstreamWatcherControllerSync(t *testing.T) {
 								"ldap.example.com:5678", testBindUsername, "ldap.example.com:5678"),
 							ObservedGeneration: 1234,
 						},
+						searchBaseFoundInConfigCondition(1234),
 						tlsConfigurationValidLoadedTrueCondition(1234),
 					},
 				},
 			}},
+			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {UserSearchBase: testUserSearchBase, GroupSearchBase: testGroupSearchBase}},
 		},
 		{
 			name: "non-nil TLS configuration with empty CertificateAuthorityData is valid",
@@ -643,7 +715,7 @@ func TestActiveDirectoryUpstreamWatcherControllerSync(t *testing.T) {
 					Conditions: allConditionsTrue(1234, "4242"),
 				},
 			}},
-			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242", LDAPConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS}},
+			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242", LDAPConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS, UserSearchBase: testUserSearchBase, GroupSearchBase: testGroupSearchBase}},
 		},
 		{
 			name: "one valid upstream and one invalid upstream updates the cache to include only the valid upstream",
@@ -686,7 +758,7 @@ func TestActiveDirectoryUpstreamWatcherControllerSync(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 				},
 			},
-			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242", LDAPConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS}},
+			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242", LDAPConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS, UserSearchBase: testUserSearchBase, GroupSearchBase: testGroupSearchBase}},
 		},
 		{
 			name:           "when testing the connection to the LDAP server fails then the upstream is still added to the cache anyway (treated like a warning)",
@@ -716,10 +788,107 @@ func TestActiveDirectoryUpstreamWatcherControllerSync(t *testing.T) {
 								testHost, testBindUsername, testBindUsername),
 							ObservedGeneration: 1234,
 						},
+						searchBaseFoundInConfigCondition(1234),
 						tlsConfigurationValidLoadedTrueCondition(1234),
 					},
 				},
 			}},
+			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {UserSearchBase: testUserSearchBase, GroupSearchBase: testGroupSearchBase}},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "when testing the connection to the LDAP server fails, but later querying defaultsearchbase succeeds, then the upstream is still added to the cache anyway (treated like a warning)",
+			inputUpstreams: []runtime.Object{editedValidUpstream(func(upstream *v1alpha1.ActiveDirectoryIdentityProvider) {
+				upstream.Spec.UserSearch.Base = ""
+			})},
+			inputSecrets: []runtime.Object{validBindUserSecret("")},
+			setupMocks: func(conn *mockldapconn.MockConn) {
+				// Should perform a test dial and bind.
+				// Expect three calls bind: once for trying TLS and once for trying StartTLS (both fail), and one before querying for defaultNamingContext (succeeds)
+				first := conn.EXPECT().Bind(testBindUsername, testBindPassword).Times(2).Return(errors.New("some bind error"))
+				conn.EXPECT().Bind(testBindUsername, testBindPassword).Times(1).After(first)
+				conn.EXPECT().Search(expectedDefaultNamingContextSearch()).Times(1).Return(exampleDefaultNamingContextSearchResult, nil)
+				conn.EXPECT().Close().Times(3)
+			},
+			wantErr: controllerlib.ErrSyntheticRequeue.Error(),
+			wantResultingCache: []*upstreamldap.ProviderConfig{
+				{
+					Name:               testName,
+					Host:               testHost,
+					ConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS,
+					CABundle:           testCABundle,
+					BindUsername:       testBindUsername,
+					BindPassword:       testBindPassword,
+					UserSearch: upstreamldap.UserSearchConfig{
+						Base:              exampleDefaultNamingContext,
+						Filter:            testUserSearchFilter,
+						UsernameAttribute: testUsernameAttrName,
+						UIDAttribute:      testUIDAttrName,
+					},
+					GroupSearch: upstreamldap.GroupSearchConfig{
+						Base:               testGroupSearchBase,
+						Filter:             testGroupSearchFilter,
+						GroupNameAttribute: testGroupNameAttrName,
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			wantResultingUpstreams: []v1alpha1.ActiveDirectoryIdentityProvider{{
+				ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Namespace: testNamespace, Name: testName, Generation: 1234},
+				Status: v1alpha1.ActiveDirectoryIdentityProviderStatus{
+					Phase: "Error",
+					Conditions: []v1alpha1.Condition{
+						bindSecretValidTrueCondition(1234),
+						{
+							Type:               "LDAPConnectionValid",
+							Status:             "False",
+							LastTransitionTime: now,
+							Reason:             "LDAPConnectionError",
+							Message: fmt.Sprintf(
+								`could not successfully connect to "%s" and bind as user "%s": error binding as "%s": some bind error`,
+								testHost, testBindUsername, testBindUsername),
+							ObservedGeneration: 1234,
+						},
+						searchBaseFoundInRootDSECondition(1234),
+						tlsConfigurationValidLoadedTrueCondition(1234),
+					},
+				},
+			}},
+			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {UserSearchBase: exampleDefaultNamingContext, GroupSearchBase: testGroupSearchBase}},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "when testing the connection to the LDAP server fails, and querying defaultsearchbase fails, then the upstream is not added to the cache",
+			inputUpstreams: []runtime.Object{editedValidUpstream(func(upstream *v1alpha1.ActiveDirectoryIdentityProvider) {
+				upstream.Spec.UserSearch.Base = ""
+			})},
+			inputSecrets: []runtime.Object{validBindUserSecret("")},
+			setupMocks: func(conn *mockldapconn.MockConn) {
+				// Should perform a test dial and bind.
+				// Expect 3 calls to each of these: once for trying TLS and once for trying StartTLS, one before querying
+				conn.EXPECT().Bind(testBindUsername, testBindPassword).Times(3).Return(errors.New("some bind error"))
+				conn.EXPECT().Close().Times(3)
+			},
+			wantErr: controllerlib.ErrSyntheticRequeue.Error(),
+			wantResultingUpstreams: []v1alpha1.ActiveDirectoryIdentityProvider{{
+				ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Namespace: testNamespace, Name: testName, Generation: 1234},
+				Status: v1alpha1.ActiveDirectoryIdentityProviderStatus{
+					Phase: "Error",
+					Conditions: []v1alpha1.Condition{
+						bindSecretValidTrueCondition(1234),
+						{
+							Type:               "LDAPConnectionValid",
+							Status:             "False",
+							LastTransitionTime: now,
+							Reason:             "LDAPConnectionError",
+							Message: fmt.Sprintf(
+								`could not successfully connect to "%s" and bind as user "%s": error binding as "%s": some bind error`,
+								testHost, testBindUsername, testBindUsername),
+							ObservedGeneration: 1234,
+						},
+						searchBaseFoundErrorCondition(1234, "Error finding search base: error binding as \"test-bind-username\" before user search: some bind error"),
+						tlsConfigurationValidLoadedTrueCondition(1234),
+					},
+				},
+			}},
+			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {GroupSearchBase: testGroupSearchBase}},
 		},
 		{
 			name: "when the LDAP server connection was already validated using TLS for the current resource generation and secret version, then do not validate it again and keep using TLS",
@@ -730,7 +899,7 @@ func TestActiveDirectoryUpstreamWatcherControllerSync(t *testing.T) {
 				}
 			})},
 			inputSecrets:             []runtime.Object{validBindUserSecret("4242")},
-			initialValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242", LDAPConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS}},
+			initialValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242", LDAPConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS, UserSearchBase: testUserSearchBase, GroupSearchBase: testGroupSearchBase}},
 			setupMocks: func(conn *mockldapconn.MockConn) {
 				// Should not perform a test dial and bind. No mocking here means the test will fail if Bind() or Close() are called.
 			},
@@ -742,7 +911,112 @@ func TestActiveDirectoryUpstreamWatcherControllerSync(t *testing.T) {
 					Conditions: allConditionsTrue(1234, "4242"),
 				},
 			}},
-			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242", LDAPConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS}},
+			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242", LDAPConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS, UserSearchBase: testUserSearchBase, GroupSearchBase: testGroupSearchBase}},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "when the LDAP server connection was already validated using TLS, but the search base wasn't, load TLS into the config and try again for the search base",
+			inputUpstreams: []runtime.Object{editedValidUpstream(func(upstream *v1alpha1.ActiveDirectoryIdentityProvider) {
+				upstream.Generation = 1234
+				upstream.Status.Conditions = []v1alpha1.Condition{
+					activeDirectoryConnectionValidTrueCondition(1234, "4242"),
+				}
+				upstream.Spec.UserSearch.Base = ""
+			})},
+			inputSecrets:             []runtime.Object{validBindUserSecret("4242")},
+			initialValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242", LDAPConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS}},
+			setupMocks: func(conn *mockldapconn.MockConn) {
+				conn.EXPECT().Bind(testBindUsername, testBindPassword).Times(1)
+				conn.EXPECT().Close().Times(1)
+				conn.EXPECT().Search(expectedDefaultNamingContextSearch()).Return(exampleDefaultNamingContextSearchResult, nil).Times(1)
+			},
+			wantResultingCache: []*upstreamldap.ProviderConfig{
+				{
+					Name:               testName,
+					Host:               testHost,
+					ConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS,
+					CABundle:           testCABundle,
+					BindUsername:       testBindUsername,
+					BindPassword:       testBindPassword,
+					UserSearch: upstreamldap.UserSearchConfig{
+						Base:              exampleDefaultNamingContext,
+						Filter:            testUserSearchFilter,
+						UsernameAttribute: testUsernameAttrName,
+						UIDAttribute:      testUIDAttrName,
+					},
+					GroupSearch: upstreamldap.GroupSearchConfig{
+						Base:               testGroupSearchBase,
+						Filter:             testGroupSearchFilter,
+						GroupNameAttribute: testGroupNameAttrName,
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			wantResultingUpstreams: []v1alpha1.ActiveDirectoryIdentityProvider{{
+				ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Namespace: testNamespace, Name: testName, Generation: 1234},
+				Status: v1alpha1.ActiveDirectoryIdentityProviderStatus{
+					Phase: "Ready",
+					Conditions: []v1alpha1.Condition{
+						bindSecretValidTrueCondition(1234),
+						activeDirectoryConnectionValidTrueCondition(1234, "4242"),
+						searchBaseFoundInRootDSECondition(1234),
+						tlsConfigurationValidLoadedTrueCondition(1234),
+					},
+				},
+			}},
+			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242", LDAPConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS, UserSearchBase: exampleDefaultNamingContext, GroupSearchBase: testGroupSearchBase}},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "when the LDAP server connection was already validated using TLS, and the search base was found, load TLS and search base info into the cache",
+			inputUpstreams: []runtime.Object{editedValidUpstream(func(upstream *v1alpha1.ActiveDirectoryIdentityProvider) {
+				upstream.Generation = 1234
+				upstream.Status.Conditions = []v1alpha1.Condition{
+					activeDirectoryConnectionValidTrueCondition(1234, "4242"),
+					searchBaseFoundInRootDSECondition(1234),
+				}
+				upstream.Spec.UserSearch.Base = ""
+			})},
+			inputSecrets:             []runtime.Object{validBindUserSecret("4242")},
+			initialValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242", LDAPConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS, UserSearchBase: exampleDefaultNamingContext, GroupSearchBase: testGroupSearchBase}},
+			setupMocks: func(conn *mockldapconn.MockConn) {
+			},
+			wantResultingCache: []*upstreamldap.ProviderConfig{
+				{
+					Name:               testName,
+					Host:               testHost,
+					ConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS,
+					CABundle:           testCABundle,
+					BindUsername:       testBindUsername,
+					BindPassword:       testBindPassword,
+					UserSearch: upstreamldap.UserSearchConfig{
+						Base:              exampleDefaultNamingContext,
+						Filter:            testUserSearchFilter,
+						UsernameAttribute: testUsernameAttrName,
+						UIDAttribute:      testUIDAttrName,
+					},
+					GroupSearch: upstreamldap.GroupSearchConfig{
+						Base:               testGroupSearchBase,
+						Filter:             testGroupSearchFilter,
+						GroupNameAttribute: testGroupNameAttrName,
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			wantResultingUpstreams: []v1alpha1.ActiveDirectoryIdentityProvider{{
+				ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Namespace: testNamespace, Name: testName, Generation: 1234},
+				Status: v1alpha1.ActiveDirectoryIdentityProviderStatus{
+					Phase: "Ready",
+					Conditions: []v1alpha1.Condition{
+						bindSecretValidTrueCondition(1234),
+						activeDirectoryConnectionValidTrueCondition(1234, "4242"),
+						searchBaseFoundInRootDSECondition(1234),
+						tlsConfigurationValidLoadedTrueCondition(1234),
+					},
+				},
+			}},
+			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {
+				BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242",
+				LDAPConnectionProtocol:    upstreamldap.TLS,
+				UserSearchBase:            exampleDefaultNamingContext,
+				GroupSearchBase:           testGroupSearchBase,
+			}},
 		},
 		{
 			name: "when the LDAP server connection was already validated using StartTLS for the current resource generation and secret version, then do not validate it again and keep using StartTLS",
@@ -765,7 +1039,12 @@ func TestActiveDirectoryUpstreamWatcherControllerSync(t *testing.T) {
 					Conditions: allConditionsTrue(1234, "4242"),
 				},
 			}},
-			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242", LDAPConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.StartTLS}},
+			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {
+				BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242",
+				LDAPConnectionProtocol:    upstreamldap.StartTLS,
+				UserSearchBase:            testUserSearchBase,
+				GroupSearchBase:           testGroupSearchBase,
+			}},
 		},
 		{
 			name: "when the LDAP server connection was validated for an older resource generation, then try to validate it again",
@@ -775,8 +1054,13 @@ func TestActiveDirectoryUpstreamWatcherControllerSync(t *testing.T) {
 					activeDirectoryConnectionValidTrueCondition(1233, "4242"), // older spec generation!
 				}
 			})},
-			inputSecrets:             []runtime.Object{validBindUserSecret("4242")},
-			initialValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242", LDAPConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS}},
+			inputSecrets: []runtime.Object{validBindUserSecret("4242")},
+			initialValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {
+				BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242",
+				LDAPConnectionProtocol:    upstreamldap.TLS,
+				UserSearchBase:            testUserSearchBase,
+				GroupSearchBase:           testGroupSearchBase,
+			}},
 			setupMocks: func(conn *mockldapconn.MockConn) {
 				// Should perform a test dial and bind.
 				conn.EXPECT().Bind(testBindUsername, testBindPassword).Times(1)
@@ -790,7 +1074,12 @@ func TestActiveDirectoryUpstreamWatcherControllerSync(t *testing.T) {
 					Conditions: allConditionsTrue(1234, "4242"),
 				},
 			}},
-			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242", LDAPConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS}},
+			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {
+				BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242",
+				LDAPConnectionProtocol:    upstreamldap.TLS,
+				UserSearchBase:            testUserSearchBase,
+				GroupSearchBase:           testGroupSearchBase,
+			}},
 		},
 		{
 			name: "when the LDAP server connection validation previously failed for this resource generation, then try to validate it again",
@@ -822,7 +1111,12 @@ func TestActiveDirectoryUpstreamWatcherControllerSync(t *testing.T) {
 					Conditions: allConditionsTrue(1234, "4242"),
 				},
 			}},
-			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242", LDAPConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS}},
+			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {
+				BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242",
+				LDAPConnectionProtocol:    upstreamldap.TLS,
+				UserSearchBase:            testUserSearchBase,
+				GroupSearchBase:           testGroupSearchBase,
+			}},
 		},
 		{
 			name: "when the LDAP server connection was already validated for this resource generation but the bind secret has changed, then try to validate it again",
@@ -832,8 +1126,13 @@ func TestActiveDirectoryUpstreamWatcherControllerSync(t *testing.T) {
 					activeDirectoryConnectionValidTrueCondition(1234, "4241"), // same spec generation, old secret version
 				}
 			})},
-			inputSecrets:             []runtime.Object{validBindUserSecret("4242")},                                                                                          // newer secret version!
-			initialValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {BindSecretResourceVersion: "4241", LDAPConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS}}, // old version was validated
+			inputSecrets: []runtime.Object{validBindUserSecret("4242")}, // newer secret version!
+			initialValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {
+				BindSecretResourceVersion: "4241",
+				LDAPConnectionProtocol:    upstreamldap.TLS,
+				UserSearchBase:            testUserSearchBase,
+				GroupSearchBase:           testGroupSearchBase,
+			}}, // old version was validated
 			setupMocks: func(conn *mockldapconn.MockConn) {
 				// Should perform a test dial and bind.
 				conn.EXPECT().Bind(testBindUsername, testBindPassword).Times(1)
@@ -847,7 +1146,12 @@ func TestActiveDirectoryUpstreamWatcherControllerSync(t *testing.T) {
 					Conditions: allConditionsTrue(1234, "4242"),
 				},
 			}},
-			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242", LDAPConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS}},
+			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{
+				testName: {BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242",
+					LDAPConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS,
+					UserSearchBase:         testUserSearchBase,
+					GroupSearchBase:        testGroupSearchBase,
+				}},
 		},
 		{
 			name: "when the input activedirectoryidentityprovider leaves user attributes blank, provide default values",
@@ -888,7 +1192,190 @@ func TestActiveDirectoryUpstreamWatcherControllerSync(t *testing.T) {
 					Conditions: allConditionsTrue(1234, "4242"),
 				},
 			}},
-			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242", LDAPConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS}},
+			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {
+				BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242",
+				LDAPConnectionProtocol:    upstreamldap.TLS,
+				UserSearchBase:            testUserSearchBase,
+				GroupSearchBase:           testGroupSearchBase,
+			}},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "when the input activedirectoryidentityprovider leaves user and group search base blank, query for defaultNamingContext",
+			inputUpstreams: []runtime.Object{editedValidUpstream(func(upstream *v1alpha1.ActiveDirectoryIdentityProvider) {
+				upstream.Spec.UserSearch.Attributes = v1alpha1.ActiveDirectoryIdentityProviderUserSearchAttributes{}
+				upstream.Spec.UserSearch.Base = ""
+				upstream.Spec.GroupSearch.Base = ""
+			})},
+			inputSecrets: []runtime.Object{validBindUserSecret("4242")},
+			setupMocks: func(conn *mockldapconn.MockConn) {
+				// Should perform a test dial and bind.
+				conn.EXPECT().Bind(testBindUsername, testBindPassword).Times(2)
+				conn.EXPECT().Close().Times(2)
+				conn.EXPECT().Search(expectedDefaultNamingContextSearch()).Return(exampleDefaultNamingContextSearchResult, nil).Times(1)
+			},
+			wantResultingCache: []*upstreamldap.ProviderConfig{
+				{
+					Name:               testName,
+					Host:               testHost,
+					ConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS,
+					CABundle:           testCABundle,
+					BindUsername:       testBindUsername,
+					BindPassword:       testBindPassword,
+					UserSearch: upstreamldap.UserSearchConfig{
+						Base:              exampleDefaultNamingContext,
+						Filter:            testUserSearchFilter,
+						UsernameAttribute: "sAMAccountName",
+						UIDAttribute:      "objectGUID",
+					},
+					GroupSearch: upstreamldap.GroupSearchConfig{
+						Base:               exampleDefaultNamingContext,
+						Filter:             testGroupSearchFilter,
+						GroupNameAttribute: testGroupNameAttrName,
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			wantResultingUpstreams: []v1alpha1.ActiveDirectoryIdentityProvider{{
+				ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Namespace: testNamespace, Name: testName, Generation: 1234},
+				Status: v1alpha1.ActiveDirectoryIdentityProviderStatus{
+					Phase: "Ready",
+					Conditions: []v1alpha1.Condition{
+						bindSecretValidTrueCondition(1234),
+						activeDirectoryConnectionValidTrueCondition(1234, "4242"),
+						searchBaseFoundInRootDSECondition(1234),
+						tlsConfigurationValidLoadedTrueCondition(1234),
+					},
+				},
+			}},
+			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242", LDAPConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS, UserSearchBase: exampleDefaultNamingContext, GroupSearchBase: exampleDefaultNamingContext}},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "when the input activedirectoryidentityprovider leaves user search base blank but provides group search base, query for defaultNamingContext",
+			inputUpstreams: []runtime.Object{editedValidUpstream(func(upstream *v1alpha1.ActiveDirectoryIdentityProvider) {
+				upstream.Spec.UserSearch.Attributes = v1alpha1.ActiveDirectoryIdentityProviderUserSearchAttributes{}
+				upstream.Spec.UserSearch.Base = ""
+			})},
+			inputSecrets: []runtime.Object{validBindUserSecret("4242")},
+			setupMocks: func(conn *mockldapconn.MockConn) {
+				// Should perform a test dial and bind.
+				conn.EXPECT().Bind(testBindUsername, testBindPassword).Times(2)
+				conn.EXPECT().Close().Times(2)
+				conn.EXPECT().Search(expectedDefaultNamingContextSearch()).Return(exampleDefaultNamingContextSearchResult, nil).Times(1)
+			},
+			wantResultingCache: []*upstreamldap.ProviderConfig{
+				{
+					Name:               testName,
+					Host:               testHost,
+					ConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS,
+					CABundle:           testCABundle,
+					BindUsername:       testBindUsername,
+					BindPassword:       testBindPassword,
+					UserSearch: upstreamldap.UserSearchConfig{
+						Base:              exampleDefaultNamingContext,
+						Filter:            testUserSearchFilter,
+						UsernameAttribute: "sAMAccountName",
+						UIDAttribute:      "objectGUID",
+					},
+					GroupSearch: upstreamldap.GroupSearchConfig{
+						Base:               testGroupSearchBase,
+						Filter:             testGroupSearchFilter,
+						GroupNameAttribute: testGroupNameAttrName,
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			wantResultingUpstreams: []v1alpha1.ActiveDirectoryIdentityProvider{{
+				ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Namespace: testNamespace, Name: testName, Generation: 1234},
+				Status: v1alpha1.ActiveDirectoryIdentityProviderStatus{
+					Phase: "Ready",
+					Conditions: []v1alpha1.Condition{
+						bindSecretValidTrueCondition(1234),
+						activeDirectoryConnectionValidTrueCondition(1234, "4242"),
+						searchBaseFoundInRootDSECondition(1234),
+						tlsConfigurationValidLoadedTrueCondition(1234),
+					},
+				},
+			}},
+			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242", LDAPConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS, UserSearchBase: exampleDefaultNamingContext, GroupSearchBase: testGroupSearchBase}},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "when the input activedirectoryidentityprovider leaves group search base blank but provides user search base, query for defaultNamingContext",
+			inputUpstreams: []runtime.Object{editedValidUpstream(func(upstream *v1alpha1.ActiveDirectoryIdentityProvider) {
+				upstream.Spec.UserSearch.Attributes = v1alpha1.ActiveDirectoryIdentityProviderUserSearchAttributes{}
+				upstream.Spec.GroupSearch.Base = ""
+			})},
+			inputSecrets: []runtime.Object{validBindUserSecret("4242")},
+			setupMocks: func(conn *mockldapconn.MockConn) {
+				// Should perform a test dial and bind.
+				conn.EXPECT().Bind(testBindUsername, testBindPassword).Times(2)
+				conn.EXPECT().Close().Times(2)
+				conn.EXPECT().Search(expectedDefaultNamingContextSearch()).Return(exampleDefaultNamingContextSearchResult, nil).Times(1)
+			},
+			wantResultingCache: []*upstreamldap.ProviderConfig{
+				{
+					Name:               testName,
+					Host:               testHost,
+					ConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS,
+					CABundle:           testCABundle,
+					BindUsername:       testBindUsername,
+					BindPassword:       testBindPassword,
+					UserSearch: upstreamldap.UserSearchConfig{
+						Base:              testUserSearchBase,
+						Filter:            testUserSearchFilter,
+						UsernameAttribute: "sAMAccountName",
+						UIDAttribute:      "objectGUID",
+					},
+					GroupSearch: upstreamldap.GroupSearchConfig{
+						Base:               exampleDefaultNamingContext,
+						Filter:             testGroupSearchFilter,
+						GroupNameAttribute: testGroupNameAttrName,
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			wantResultingUpstreams: []v1alpha1.ActiveDirectoryIdentityProvider{{
+				ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Namespace: testNamespace, Name: testName, Generation: 1234},
+				Status: v1alpha1.ActiveDirectoryIdentityProviderStatus{
+					Phase: "Ready",
+					Conditions: []v1alpha1.Condition{
+						bindSecretValidTrueCondition(1234),
+						activeDirectoryConnectionValidTrueCondition(1234, "4242"),
+						searchBaseFoundInRootDSECondition(1234),
+						tlsConfigurationValidLoadedTrueCondition(1234),
+					},
+				},
+			}},
+			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242", LDAPConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS, UserSearchBase: testUserSearchBase, GroupSearchBase: exampleDefaultNamingContext}},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "when the input activedirectoryidentityprovider leaves group search base blank and query for defaultNamingContext fails",
+			// TODO is this a fatal error? I think so because leaving the search base blank and trying anyway does not seem expected.
+			//  it could potentially succeed but return something unexpected...
+			inputUpstreams: []runtime.Object{editedValidUpstream(func(upstream *v1alpha1.ActiveDirectoryIdentityProvider) {
+				upstream.Spec.UserSearch.Attributes = v1alpha1.ActiveDirectoryIdentityProviderUserSearchAttributes{}
+				upstream.Spec.GroupSearch.Base = ""
+			})},
+			inputSecrets: []runtime.Object{validBindUserSecret("4242")},
+			setupMocks: func(conn *mockldapconn.MockConn) {
+				// Should perform a test dial and bind.
+				conn.EXPECT().Bind(testBindUsername, testBindPassword).Times(2)
+				conn.EXPECT().Close().Times(2)
+				conn.EXPECT().Search(expectedDefaultNamingContextSearch()).Return(nil, errors.New("some error")).Times(1)
+			},
+			wantErr: controllerlib.ErrSyntheticRequeue.Error(),
+			wantResultingUpstreams: []v1alpha1.ActiveDirectoryIdentityProvider{{
+				ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{Namespace: testNamespace, Name: testName, Generation: 1234},
+				Status: v1alpha1.ActiveDirectoryIdentityProviderStatus{
+					Phase: "Error",
+					Conditions: []v1alpha1.Condition{
+						bindSecretValidTrueCondition(1234),
+						activeDirectoryConnectionValidTrueCondition(1234, "4242"),
+						searchBaseFoundErrorCondition(1234, "Error finding search base: error querying RootDSE for defaultNamingContext: some error"),
+						tlsConfigurationValidLoadedTrueCondition(1234),
+					},
+				},
+			}},
+			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{
+				testName: {BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242",
+					LDAPConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS,
+					UserSearchBase:         testUserSearchBase}},
 		},
 	}
 
diff --git a/internal/controller/supervisorconfig/ldapupstreamwatcher/ldap_upstream_watcher.go b/internal/controller/supervisorconfig/ldapupstreamwatcher/ldap_upstream_watcher.go
index 838f5574..90d172b1 100644
--- a/internal/controller/supervisorconfig/ldapupstreamwatcher/ldap_upstream_watcher.go
+++ b/internal/controller/supervisorconfig/ldapupstreamwatcher/ldap_upstream_watcher.go
@@ -77,6 +77,12 @@ func (s *ldapUpstreamGenericLDAPSpec) GroupSearch() upstreamwatchers.UpstreamGen
 	return &ldapUpstreamGenericLDAPGroupSearch{s.ldapIdentityProvider.Spec.GroupSearch}
 }
 
+func (s *ldapUpstreamGenericLDAPSpec) DetectAndSetSearchBase(_ context.Context, config *upstreamldap.ProviderConfig) *v1alpha1.Condition {
+	config.GroupSearch.Base = s.ldapIdentityProvider.Spec.GroupSearch.Base
+	config.UserSearch.Base = s.ldapIdentityProvider.Spec.UserSearch.Base
+	return nil
+}
+
 type ldapUpstreamGenericLDAPUserSearch struct {
 	userSearch v1alpha1.LDAPIdentityProviderUserSearch
 }
diff --git a/internal/controller/supervisorconfig/ldapupstreamwatcher/ldap_upstream_watcher_test.go b/internal/controller/supervisorconfig/ldapupstreamwatcher/ldap_upstream_watcher_test.go
index 9d475292..16993640 100644
--- a/internal/controller/supervisorconfig/ldapupstreamwatcher/ldap_upstream_watcher_test.go
+++ b/internal/controller/supervisorconfig/ldapupstreamwatcher/ldap_upstream_watcher_test.go
@@ -305,7 +305,12 @@ func TestLDAPUpstreamWatcherControllerSync(t *testing.T) {
 					Conditions: allConditionsTrue(1234, "4242"),
 				},
 			}},
-			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242", LDAPConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS}},
+			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {
+				BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242",
+				LDAPConnectionProtocol:    upstreamldap.TLS,
+				UserSearchBase:            testUserSearchBase,
+				GroupSearchBase:           testGroupSearchBase,
+			}},
 		},
 		{
 			name:               "missing secret",
@@ -488,8 +493,12 @@ func TestLDAPUpstreamWatcherControllerSync(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 				},
 			}},
-			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242", LDAPConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS}},
-		},
+			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {
+				BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242",
+				LDAPConnectionProtocol:    upstreamldap.TLS,
+				UserSearchBase:            testUserSearchBase,
+				GroupSearchBase:           testGroupSearchBase,
+			}}},
 		{
 			name: "when TLS connection fails it tries to use StartTLS instead: without a specified port it automatically switches ports",
 			inputUpstreams: []runtime.Object{editedValidUpstream(func(upstream *v1alpha1.LDAPIdentityProvider) {
@@ -546,8 +555,12 @@ func TestLDAPUpstreamWatcherControllerSync(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 				},
 			}},
-			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242", LDAPConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.StartTLS}},
-		},
+			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {
+				BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242",
+				LDAPConnectionProtocol:    upstreamldap.StartTLS,
+				UserSearchBase:            testUserSearchBase,
+				GroupSearchBase:           testGroupSearchBase,
+			}}},
 		{
 			name: "when TLS connection fails it tries to use StartTLS instead: with a specified port it does not automatically switch ports",
 			inputUpstreams: []runtime.Object{editedValidUpstream(func(upstream *v1alpha1.LDAPIdentityProvider) {
@@ -603,6 +616,10 @@ func TestLDAPUpstreamWatcherControllerSync(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 				},
 			}},
+			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {
+				UserSearchBase:  testUserSearchBase,
+				GroupSearchBase: testGroupSearchBase,
+			}},
 		},
 		{
 			name: "non-nil TLS configuration with empty CertificateAuthorityData is valid",
@@ -643,7 +660,12 @@ func TestLDAPUpstreamWatcherControllerSync(t *testing.T) {
 					Conditions: allConditionsTrue(1234, "4242"),
 				},
 			}},
-			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242", LDAPConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS}},
+			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {
+				BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242",
+				LDAPConnectionProtocol:    upstreamldap.TLS,
+				UserSearchBase:            testUserSearchBase,
+				GroupSearchBase:           testGroupSearchBase,
+			}},
 		},
 		{
 			name: "one valid upstream and one invalid upstream updates the cache to include only the valid upstream",
@@ -686,8 +708,12 @@ func TestLDAPUpstreamWatcherControllerSync(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 				},
 			},
-			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242", LDAPConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS}},
-		},
+			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {
+				BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242",
+				LDAPConnectionProtocol:    upstreamldap.TLS,
+				UserSearchBase:            testUserSearchBase,
+				GroupSearchBase:           testGroupSearchBase,
+			}}},
 		{
 			name:           "when testing the connection to the LDAP server fails then the upstream is still added to the cache anyway (treated like a warning)",
 			inputUpstreams: []runtime.Object{validUpstream},
@@ -720,6 +746,10 @@ func TestLDAPUpstreamWatcherControllerSync(t *testing.T) {
 					},
 				},
 			}},
+			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {
+				UserSearchBase:  testUserSearchBase,
+				GroupSearchBase: testGroupSearchBase,
+			}},
 		},
 		{
 			name: "when the LDAP server connection was already validated using TLS for the current resource generation and secret version, then do not validate it again and keep using TLS",
@@ -742,8 +772,12 @@ func TestLDAPUpstreamWatcherControllerSync(t *testing.T) {
 					Conditions: allConditionsTrue(1234, "4242"),
 				},
 			}},
-			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242", LDAPConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS}},
-		},
+			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {
+				BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242",
+				LDAPConnectionProtocol:    upstreamldap.TLS,
+				UserSearchBase:            testUserSearchBase,
+				GroupSearchBase:           testGroupSearchBase,
+			}}},
 		{
 			name: "when the LDAP server connection was already validated using StartTLS for the current resource generation and secret version, then do not validate it again and keep using StartTLS",
 			inputUpstreams: []runtime.Object{editedValidUpstream(func(upstream *v1alpha1.LDAPIdentityProvider) {
@@ -765,8 +799,12 @@ func TestLDAPUpstreamWatcherControllerSync(t *testing.T) {
 					Conditions: allConditionsTrue(1234, "4242"),
 				},
 			}},
-			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242", LDAPConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.StartTLS}},
-		},
+			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {
+				BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242",
+				LDAPConnectionProtocol:    upstreamldap.StartTLS,
+				UserSearchBase:            testUserSearchBase,
+				GroupSearchBase:           testGroupSearchBase,
+			}}},
 		{
 			name: "when the LDAP server connection was validated for an older resource generation, then try to validate it again",
 			inputUpstreams: []runtime.Object{editedValidUpstream(func(upstream *v1alpha1.LDAPIdentityProvider) {
@@ -790,8 +828,12 @@ func TestLDAPUpstreamWatcherControllerSync(t *testing.T) {
 					Conditions: allConditionsTrue(1234, "4242"),
 				},
 			}},
-			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242", LDAPConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS}},
-		},
+			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {
+				BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242",
+				LDAPConnectionProtocol:    upstreamldap.TLS,
+				UserSearchBase:            testUserSearchBase,
+				GroupSearchBase:           testGroupSearchBase,
+			}}},
 		{
 			name: "when the LDAP server connection validation previously failed for this resource generation, then try to validate it again",
 			inputUpstreams: []runtime.Object{editedValidUpstream(func(upstream *v1alpha1.LDAPIdentityProvider) {
@@ -822,8 +864,12 @@ func TestLDAPUpstreamWatcherControllerSync(t *testing.T) {
 					Conditions: allConditionsTrue(1234, "4242"),
 				},
 			}},
-			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242", LDAPConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS}},
-		},
+			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {
+				BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242",
+				LDAPConnectionProtocol:    upstreamldap.TLS,
+				UserSearchBase:            testUserSearchBase,
+				GroupSearchBase:           testGroupSearchBase,
+			}}},
 		{
 			name: "when the LDAP server connection was already validated for this resource generation but the bind secret has changed, then try to validate it again",
 			inputUpstreams: []runtime.Object{editedValidUpstream(func(upstream *v1alpha1.LDAPIdentityProvider) {
@@ -847,8 +893,12 @@ func TestLDAPUpstreamWatcherControllerSync(t *testing.T) {
 					Conditions: allConditionsTrue(1234, "4242"),
 				},
 			}},
-			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242", LDAPConnectionProtocol: upstreamldap.TLS}},
-		},
+			wantValidatedSettings: map[string]upstreamwatchers.ValidatedSettings{testName: {
+				BindSecretResourceVersion: "4242",
+				LDAPConnectionProtocol:    upstreamldap.TLS,
+				UserSearchBase:            testUserSearchBase,
+				GroupSearchBase:           testGroupSearchBase,
+			}}},
 	}
 
 	for _, tt := range tests {
diff --git a/internal/controller/supervisorconfig/upstreamwatchers/upstream_watchers.go b/internal/controller/supervisorconfig/upstreamwatchers/upstream_watchers.go
index 65b34eea..58522d60 100644
--- a/internal/controller/supervisorconfig/upstreamwatchers/upstream_watchers.go
+++ b/internal/controller/supervisorconfig/upstreamwatchers/upstream_watchers.go
@@ -36,13 +36,14 @@ const (
 	typeBindSecretValid           = "BindSecretValid"
 	typeTLSConfigurationValid     = "TLSConfigurationValid"
 	typeLDAPConnectionValid       = "LDAPConnectionValid"
+	TypeSearchBaseFound           = "SearchBaseFound"
 	reasonLDAPConnectionError     = "LDAPConnectionError"
 	noTLSConfigurationMessage     = "no TLS configuration provided"
 	loadedTLSConfigurationMessage = "loaded TLS configuration"
 )
 
 // An in-memory cache with an entry for each ActiveDirectoryIdentityProvider, to keep track of which ResourceVersion
-// of the bind Secret and which TLS/StartTLS setting was used during the most recent successful validation.
+// of the bind Secret, which TLS/StartTLS setting was used and which search base was found during the most recent successful validation.
 type SecretVersionCache struct {
 	ValidatedSettingsByName map[string]ValidatedSettings
 }
@@ -50,6 +51,8 @@ type SecretVersionCache struct {
 type ValidatedSettings struct {
 	BindSecretResourceVersion string
 	LDAPConnectionProtocol    upstreamldap.LDAPConnectionProtocol
+	UserSearchBase            string
+	GroupSearchBase           string
 }
 
 func NewSecretVersionCache() *SecretVersionCache {
@@ -71,6 +74,7 @@ type UpstreamGenericLDAPSpec interface {
 	BindSecretName() string
 	UserSearch() UpstreamGenericLDAPUserSearch
 	GroupSearch() UpstreamGenericLDAPGroupSearch
+	DetectAndSetSearchBase(ctx context.Context, config *upstreamldap.ProviderConfig) *v1alpha1.Condition
 }
 
 type UpstreamGenericLDAPUserSearch interface {
@@ -161,7 +165,7 @@ func TestConnection(
 	}
 }
 
-func HasPreviousSuccessfulConditionForCurrentSpecGenerationAndSecretVersion(secretVersionCache *SecretVersionCache, currentGeneration int64, upstreamStatusConditions []v1alpha1.Condition, upstreamName string, currentSecretVersion string, config *upstreamldap.ProviderConfig) bool {
+func HasPreviousSuccessfulTLSConnectionConditionForCurrentSpecGenerationAndSecretVersion(secretVersionCache *SecretVersionCache, currentGeneration int64, upstreamStatusConditions []v1alpha1.Condition, upstreamName string, currentSecretVersion string, config *upstreamldap.ProviderConfig) bool {
 	for _, cond := range upstreamStatusConditions {
 		if cond.Type == typeLDAPConnectionValid && cond.Status == v1alpha1.ConditionTrue && cond.ObservedGeneration == currentGeneration {
 			// Found a previously successful condition for the current spec generation.
@@ -177,6 +181,21 @@ func HasPreviousSuccessfulConditionForCurrentSpecGenerationAndSecretVersion(secr
 	return false
 }
 
+func HasPreviousSuccessfulSearchBaseConditionForCurrentGeneration(secretVersionCache *SecretVersionCache, currentGeneration int64, upstreamStatusConditions []v1alpha1.Condition, upstreamName string, currentSecretVersion string, config *upstreamldap.ProviderConfig) bool {
+	for _, cond := range upstreamStatusConditions {
+		if cond.Type == TypeSearchBaseFound && cond.Status == v1alpha1.ConditionTrue && cond.ObservedGeneration == currentGeneration {
+			// Found a previously successful condition for the current spec generation.
+			// Now figure out which version of the bind Secret was used during that previous validation, if any.
+			validatedSettings := secretVersionCache.ValidatedSettingsByName[upstreamName]
+			// Reload the TLS vs StartTLS setting that was previously validated.
+			config.UserSearch.Base = validatedSettings.UserSearchBase
+			config.GroupSearch.Base = validatedSettings.GroupSearchBase
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
 func validTLSCondition(message string) *v1alpha1.Condition {
 	return &v1alpha1.Condition{
 		Type:    typeTLSConfigurationValid,
@@ -267,38 +286,47 @@ func ValidateGenericLDAP(ctx context.Context, upstream UpstreamGenericLDAPIDP, s
 
 	// No point in trying to connect to the server if the config was already determined to be invalid.
 	var ldapConnectionValidCondition *v1alpha1.Condition
+	var searchBaseFoundCondition *v1alpha1.Condition
 	if secretValidCondition.Status == v1alpha1.ConditionTrue && tlsValidCondition.Status == v1alpha1.ConditionTrue {
-		ldapConnectionValidCondition = validateAndSetLDAPServerConnectivity(ctx, validatedSecretVersionsCache, upstream, config, currentSecretVersion)
+		ldapConnectionValidCondition, searchBaseFoundCondition = validateAndSetLDAPServerConnectivity(ctx, validatedSecretVersionsCache, upstream, config, currentSecretVersion)
 		if ldapConnectionValidCondition != nil {
 			conditions.Append(ldapConnectionValidCondition, false)
 		}
+		if searchBaseFoundCondition != nil {
+			conditions.Append(searchBaseFoundCondition, true)
+		}
 	}
 	return conditions
 }
 
-func validateAndSetLDAPServerConnectivity(ctx context.Context, validatedSecretVersionsCache *SecretVersionCache, upstream UpstreamGenericLDAPIDP, config *upstreamldap.ProviderConfig, currentSecretVersion string) *v1alpha1.Condition {
-	// TODO refactor validateAndSetLDAPServerConnectivity to be shared and take a helper function for the defaultNamingContext stuff
-	//  so that can be shared.
-	if HasPreviousSuccessfulConditionForCurrentSpecGenerationAndSecretVersion(validatedSecretVersionsCache, upstream.Generation(), upstream.Status().Conditions(), upstream.Name(), currentSecretVersion, config) {
-		return nil
-	}
+func validateAndSetLDAPServerConnectivity(ctx context.Context, validatedSecretVersionsCache *SecretVersionCache, upstream UpstreamGenericLDAPIDP, config *upstreamldap.ProviderConfig, currentSecretVersion string) (*v1alpha1.Condition, *v1alpha1.Condition) {
+	var ldapConnectionValidCondition *v1alpha1.Condition
+	if !HasPreviousSuccessfulTLSConnectionConditionForCurrentSpecGenerationAndSecretVersion(validatedSecretVersionsCache, upstream.Generation(), upstream.Status().Conditions(), upstream.Name(), currentSecretVersion, config) {
+		testConnectionTimeout, cancelFunc := context.WithTimeout(ctx, TestLDAPConnectionTimeout)
+		defer cancelFunc()
 
-	testConnectionTimeout, cancelFunc := context.WithTimeout(ctx, TestLDAPConnectionTimeout)
-	defer cancelFunc()
+		ldapConnectionValidCondition = TestConnection(testConnectionTimeout, upstream.Spec().BindSecretName(), config, currentSecretVersion)
 
-	condition := TestConnection(testConnectionTimeout, upstream.Spec().BindSecretName(), config, currentSecretVersion)
-
-	if condition.Status == v1alpha1.ConditionTrue {
-		// Remember (in-memory for this pod) that the controller has successfully validated the LDAP provider
-		// using this version of the Secret. This is for performance reasons, to avoid attempting to connect to
-		// the LDAP server more than is needed. If the pod restarts, it will attempt this validation again.
-		validatedSecretVersionsCache.ValidatedSettingsByName[upstream.Name()] = ValidatedSettings{
-			BindSecretResourceVersion: currentSecretVersion,
-			LDAPConnectionProtocol:    config.ConnectionProtocol,
+		if ldapConnectionValidCondition.Status == v1alpha1.ConditionTrue {
+			// Remember (in-memory for this pod) that the controller has successfully validated the LDAP provider
+			// using this version of the Secret. This is for performance reasons, to avoid attempting to connect to
+			// the LDAP server more than is needed. If the pod restarts, it will attempt this validation again.
+			validatedSecretVersionsCache.ValidatedSettingsByName[upstream.Name()] = ValidatedSettings{
+				BindSecretResourceVersion: currentSecretVersion,
+				LDAPConnectionProtocol:    config.ConnectionProtocol,
+			}
 		}
 	}
+	var searchBaseFoundCondition *v1alpha1.Condition
+	if !HasPreviousSuccessfulSearchBaseConditionForCurrentGeneration(validatedSecretVersionsCache, upstream.Generation(), upstream.Status().Conditions(), upstream.Name(), currentSecretVersion, config) {
+		searchBaseFoundCondition = upstream.Spec().DetectAndSetSearchBase(ctx, config)
+		validatedSettings := validatedSecretVersionsCache.ValidatedSettingsByName[upstream.Name()]
+		validatedSettings.GroupSearchBase = config.GroupSearch.Base
+		validatedSettings.UserSearchBase = config.UserSearch.Base
+		validatedSecretVersionsCache.ValidatedSettingsByName[upstream.Name()] = validatedSettings
+	}
 
-	return condition
+	return ldapConnectionValidCondition, searchBaseFoundCondition
 }
 
 func EvaluateConditions(conditions GradatedConditions, config *upstreamldap.ProviderConfig) (provider.UpstreamLDAPIdentityProviderI, bool) {
diff --git a/internal/upstreamldap/upstreamldap.go b/internal/upstreamldap/upstreamldap.go
index e58e76b4..f6bee32f 100644
--- a/internal/upstreamldap/upstreamldap.go
+++ b/internal/upstreamldap/upstreamldap.go
@@ -392,6 +392,35 @@ func (p *Provider) validateConfig() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+func (p *Provider) SearchForDefaultNamingContext(ctx context.Context) (string, error) {
+	t := trace.FromContext(ctx).Nest("slow ldap authenticate user attempt", trace.Field{Key: "providerName", Value: p.GetName()})
+	defer t.LogIfLong(500 * time.Millisecond) // to help users debug slow LDAP searches
+
+	conn, err := p.dial(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		p.traceAuthFailure(t, err)
+		return "", fmt.Errorf(`error dialing host "%s": %w`, p.c.Host, err)
+	}
+	defer conn.Close()
+
+	err = conn.Bind(p.c.BindUsername, p.c.BindPassword)
+	if err != nil {
+		p.traceAuthFailure(t, err)
+		return "", fmt.Errorf(`error binding as "%s" before user search: %w`, p.c.BindUsername, err)
+	}
+
+	searchResult, err := conn.Search(p.defaultNamingContextRequest())
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf(`error querying RootDSE for defaultNamingContext: %w`, err)
+	}
+	// TODO handle getting empty entry back-- I think this is possible but we might want to
+	//  treat it as an error
+	// TODO handle getting no entries back
+	// TODO handle getting more than 1 result back
+	// TODO handle getting no values for defaultNamingContext attribute back in entry
+	return searchResult.Entries[0].GetAttributeValue("defaultNamingContext"), nil
+}
+
 func (p *Provider) searchAndBindUser(conn Conn, username string, bindFunc func(conn Conn, foundUserDN string) error) (string, string, []string, error) {
 	searchResult, err := conn.Search(p.userSearchRequest(username))
 	if err != nil {
@@ -462,6 +491,20 @@ func (p *Provider) searchAndBindUser(conn Conn, username string, bindFunc func(c
 	return mappedUsername, mappedUID, mappedGroupNames, nil
 }
 
+func (p *Provider) defaultNamingContextRequest() *ldap.SearchRequest {
+	return &ldap.SearchRequest{
+		BaseDN:       "",
+		Scope:        ldap.ScopeBaseObject,
+		DerefAliases: ldap.NeverDerefAliases,
+		SizeLimit:    2,
+		TimeLimit:    90,
+		TypesOnly:    false,
+		Filter:       "(objectClass=*)",
+		Attributes:   []string{"defaultNamingContext"},
+		Controls:     nil, // don't need paging because we set the SizeLimit so small
+	}
+}
+
 func (p *Provider) userSearchRequest(username string) *ldap.SearchRequest {
 	// See https://ldap.com/the-ldap-search-operation for general documentation of LDAP search options.
 	return &ldap.SearchRequest{
diff --git a/test/integration/supervisor_login_test.go b/test/integration/supervisor_login_test.go
index 17c4ec55..6a556a29 100644
--- a/test/integration/supervisor_login_test.go
+++ b/test/integration/supervisor_login_test.go
@@ -254,12 +254,6 @@ func TestSupervisorLogin(t *testing.T) {
 					TLS: &idpv1alpha1.TLSSpec{
 						CertificateAuthorityData: base64.StdEncoding.EncodeToString([]byte(env.SupervisorUpstreamActiveDirectory.CABundle)),
 					},
-					UserSearch: idpv1alpha1.ActiveDirectoryIdentityProviderUserSearch{
-						Base: "dc=activedirectory,dc=test,dc=pinniped,dc=dev",
-					},
-					GroupSearch: idpv1alpha1.ActiveDirectoryIdentityProviderGroupSearch{
-						Base: "dc=activedirectory,dc=test,dc=pinniped,dc=dev",
-					},
 					Bind: idpv1alpha1.ActiveDirectoryIdentityProviderBind{
 						SecretName: secret.Name,
 					},
@@ -269,7 +263,7 @@ func TestSupervisorLogin(t *testing.T) {
 					env.SupervisorUpstreamActiveDirectory.Host, env.SupervisorUpstreamActiveDirectory.BindUsername,
 					secret.Name, secret.ResourceVersion,
 				)
-				requireSuccessfulActiveDirectoryIdentityProviderConditions(t, adIDP, expectedMsg) // TODO refactor to be same as LDAP func
+				requireSuccessfulActiveDirectoryIdentityProviderConditions(t, adIDP, expectedMsg)
 			},
 			requestAuthorization: func(t *testing.T, downstreamAuthorizeURL, _ string, httpClient *http.Client) {
 				requestAuthorizationUsingLDAPIdentityProvider(t,
@@ -282,7 +276,7 @@ func TestSupervisorLogin(t *testing.T) {
 			// the ID token Subject should be the Host URL plus the value pulled from the requested UserSearch.Attributes.UID attribute
 			wantDownstreamIDTokenSubjectToMatch: regexp.QuoteMeta(
 				"ldaps://" + env.SupervisorUpstreamActiveDirectory.Host +
-					"?base=" + url.QueryEscape("dc=activedirectory,dc=test,dc=pinniped,dc=dev") +
+					"?base=" + url.QueryEscape("DC=activedirectory,DC=test,DC=pinniped,DC=dev") +
 					"&sub=" + env.SupervisorUpstreamActiveDirectory.TestUserUniqueIDAttributeValue,
 			),
 			// the ID token Username should have been pulled from the requested UserSearch.Attributes.Username attribute
@@ -331,7 +325,7 @@ func requireSuccessfulLDAPIdentityProviderConditions(t *testing.T, ldapIDP *idpv
 	}, conditionsSummary)
 }
 func requireSuccessfulActiveDirectoryIdentityProviderConditions(t *testing.T, adIDP *idpv1alpha1.ActiveDirectoryIdentityProvider, expectedActiveDirectoryConnectionValidMessage string) {
-	require.Len(t, adIDP.Status.Conditions, 3)
+	require.Len(t, adIDP.Status.Conditions, 4)
 
 	conditionsSummary := [][]string{}
 	for _, condition := range adIDP.Status.Conditions {
@@ -352,6 +346,7 @@ func requireSuccessfulActiveDirectoryIdentityProviderConditions(t *testing.T, ad
 		{"BindSecretValid", "True", "Success"},
 		{"TLSConfigurationValid", "True", "Success"},
 		{"LDAPConnectionValid", "True", "Success"},
+		{"SearchBaseFound", "True", "Success"},
 	}, conditionsSummary)
 }