diff --git a/qemu-char.c b/qemu-char.c
index e3b3224886..371f6308c5 100644
--- a/qemu-char.c
+++ b/qemu-char.c
@@ -2666,8 +2666,8 @@ static CharDriverState *qemu_chr_open_socket_fd(int fd, bool do_nodelay,
     }
 
     if (is_listen && is_waitconnect) {
-        printf("QEMU waiting for connection on: %s\n",
-               chr->filename);
+        fprintf(stderr, "QEMU waiting for connection on: %s\n",
+                chr->filename);
         tcp_chr_accept(s->listen_chan, G_IO_IN, chr);
         qemu_set_nonblock(s->listen_fd);
     }