diff --git a/cmd/podman/syslog_common.go b/cmd/podman/syslog_common.go
index e035e63652..b9909f8ec0 100644
--- a/cmd/podman/syslog_common.go
+++ b/cmd/podman/syslog_common.go
@@ -4,9 +4,7 @@
 package main
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
 	"log/syslog"
-	"os"
 
 	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 	logrusSyslog "github.com/sirupsen/logrus/hooks/syslog"
@@ -19,10 +17,8 @@ func syslogHook() {
 
 	hook, err := logrusSyslog.NewSyslogHook("", "", syslog.LOG_INFO, "")
 	if err != nil {
-		fmt.Fprint(os.Stderr, "Failed to initialize syslog hook: "+err.Error())
-		os.Exit(1)
-	}
-	if err == nil {
+		logrus.Debug("Failed to initialize syslog hook: " + err.Error())
+	} else {
 		logrus.AddHook(hook)
 	}
 }