diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/kafka/controller/ControllerChannelManager.scala b/core/src/main/scala/kafka/controller/ControllerChannelManager.scala
index 64e33553d2ca0..c2076a20fead3 100755
--- a/core/src/main/scala/kafka/controller/ControllerChannelManager.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/kafka/controller/ControllerChannelManager.scala
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ class RequestSendThread(val controllerId: Int,
       }
     } catch {
       case e: Throwable =>
-        error("Controller %d's connection to broker %s was unsuccessful".format(controllerId, toBroker.toString()), e)
+        warn("Controller %d's connection to broker %s was unsuccessful".format(controllerId, toBroker.toString()), e)
         networkClient.close(brokerNode.idString)
         false
     }