diff --git a/src/bin/pg_ctl/pg_ctl.c b/src/bin/pg_ctl/pg_ctl.c
index 78f4cd3e54f..8172d076cfb 100644
--- a/src/bin/pg_ctl/pg_ctl.c
+++ b/src/bin/pg_ctl/pg_ctl.c
@@ -1444,7 +1444,7 @@ pgwin32_ServiceMain(DWORD argc, LPTSTR *argv)
 		write_eventlog(EVENTLOG_INFORMATION_TYPE, _("Waiting for server startup...\n"));
 		if (test_postmaster_connection(true) != PQPING_OK)
 		{
-			write_eventlog(EVENTLOG_INFORMATION_TYPE, _("Timed out waiting for server startup\n"));
+			write_eventlog(EVENTLOG_ERROR_TYPE, _("Timed out waiting for server startup\n"));
 			pgwin32_SetServiceStatus(SERVICE_STOPPED);
 			return;
 		}