diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/sysctl/safe_sysctls.go b/pkg/kubelet/sysctl/safe_sysctls.go
index bc7f451fa1a..098da3434c7 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/sysctl/safe_sysctls.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/sysctl/safe_sysctls.go
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ func getSafeSysctlAllowlist(getVersion func() (*version.Version, error)) []strin
 		if kernelVersion != nil && kernelVersion.AtLeast(version.MustParseGeneric(sc.kernel)) {
 			safeSysctlAllowlist = append(safeSysctlAllowlist, sc.name)
 		} else {
-			klog.ErrorS(nil, "kernel version is too small, dropping the sysctl from safe sysctl list", "kernelVersion", kernelVersion, "sysctl", sc.name)
+			klog.InfoS("kernel version is too old, dropping the sysctl from safe sysctl list", "kernelVersion", kernelVersion, "sysctl", sc.name)
 		}
 	}
 	return safeSysctlAllowlist