diff --git a/bsmd.database/MessageTelemetry.cs b/bsmd.database/MessageTelemetry.cs
index 924588e3..82d8d725 100644
--- a/bsmd.database/MessageTelemetry.cs
+++ b/bsmd.database/MessageTelemetry.cs
@@ -62,7 +62,8 @@ namespace bsmd.database
                 }
                 else
                 {
-                    _log.ErrorFormat("trying to deque a message from telemetry that we don't know about. Provider: {0} MessageId: {1}",
+                    // this can happen if the service gets re-started and not all sent messages have yet been received
+                    _log.WarnFormat("trying to deque a message from telemetry that we don't know about. Provider: {0} MessageId: {1}",
                         provider.ToString(), message.Id.Value);
                 }
             }