diff --git a/src/cryptonote_protocol/cryptonote_protocol_handler.inl b/src/cryptonote_protocol/cryptonote_protocol_handler.inl
index dd7e4d8a7..cd0b059fe 100644
--- a/src/cryptonote_protocol/cryptonote_protocol_handler.inl
+++ b/src/cryptonote_protocol/cryptonote_protocol_handler.inl
@@ -308,9 +308,9 @@ namespace cryptonote
       if (version >= 6 && version != hshd.top_version)
       {
         if (version < hshd.top_version && version == m_core.get_ideal_hard_fork_version())
-          MCLOG_RED(el::Level::Warning, "global", context << " peer claims higher version than we think (" <<
+          MDEBUG(context << " peer claims higher version than we think (" <<
               (unsigned)hshd.top_version << " for " << (hshd.current_height - 1) << " instead of " << (unsigned)version <<
-              ") - we may be forked from the network and a software upgrade may be needed");
+              ") - we may be forked from the network and a software upgrade may be needed, or that peer is broken or malicious");
         return false;
       }
     }