diff --git a/plugins/out_s3/s3.c b/plugins/out_s3/s3.c
index 0c266cf30fe..5f4c1027852 100644
--- a/plugins/out_s3/s3.c
+++ b/plugins/out_s3/s3.c
@@ -539,8 +539,11 @@ static int cb_s3_init(struct flb_output_instance *ins,
         return -1;
     }
 
-    if (ctx->ins->total_limit_size != -1 && ctx->ins->total_limit_size > 0) {
-        flb_plg_info(ctx->ins, "storage.total_limit_size=%zu", ctx->ins->total_limit_size);
+    /* the check against -1 is works here because size_t is unsigned
+     * and (int) -1 == unsigned max value
+     * Fluent Bit uses -1 (which becomes max value) to indicate undefined
+     */
+    if (ctx->ins->total_limit_size != -1) {
         flb_plg_warn(ctx->ins, "Please use 'store_dir_limit_size' with s3 output instead of 'storage.total_limit_size'. "
                      "S3 has its own buffer files located in the store_dir.");
     }