diff --git a/src/backend/postmaster/pgstat.c b/src/backend/postmaster/pgstat.c
index 78f63ed5b9d..d1c8e4f9908 100644
--- a/src/backend/postmaster/pgstat.c
+++ b/src/backend/postmaster/pgstat.c
@@ -3694,7 +3694,9 @@ backend_read_statsfile(void)
 	}
 
 	if (count >= PGSTAT_POLL_LOOP_COUNT)
-		elog(WARNING, "pgstat wait timeout");
+		ereport(LOG,
+				(errmsg("using stale statistics instead of current ones "
+						"because stats collector is not responding")));
 
 	/* Autovacuum launcher wants stats about all databases */
 	if (IsAutoVacuumLauncherProcess())