diff --git a/usr.sbin/ctld/ctld.c b/usr.sbin/ctld/ctld.c
index a2bc17d1ad9..6ee6f74fb87 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/ctld/ctld.c
+++ b/usr.sbin/ctld/ctld.c
@@ -402,7 +402,7 @@ auth_portal_new(struct auth_group *ag, const char *portal)
 
 error:
 	free(ap);
-	log_errx(1, "Incorrect initiator portal '%s'", portal);
+	log_warnx("incorrect initiator portal \"%s\"", portal);
 	return (NULL);
 }