diff --git a/src/swanctl/commands/load_authorities.c b/src/swanctl/commands/load_authorities.c
index 88dde6aaf..352a185e8 100644
--- a/src/swanctl/commands/load_authorities.c
+++ b/src/swanctl/commands/load_authorities.c
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ int load_authorities_cfg(vici_conn_t *conn, command_format_options_t format,
 	}
 	if (found == 0)
 	{
-		printf("no authorities found, %u unloaded\n", unloaded);
+		fprintf(stderr, "no authorities found, %u unloaded\n", unloaded);
 		return 0;
 	}
 	if (loaded == found)
diff --git a/src/swanctl/commands/load_conns.c b/src/swanctl/commands/load_conns.c
index bbc700d5c..87526bc79 100644
--- a/src/swanctl/commands/load_conns.c
+++ b/src/swanctl/commands/load_conns.c
@@ -396,7 +396,7 @@ int load_conns_cfg(vici_conn_t *conn, command_format_options_t format,
 	}
 	if (found == 0)
 	{
-		printf("no connections found, %u unloaded\n", unloaded);
+		fprintf(stderr, "no connections found, %u unloaded\n", unloaded);
 		return 0;
 	}
 	if (loaded == found)
diff --git a/src/swanctl/commands/load_pools.c b/src/swanctl/commands/load_pools.c
index d7fbd1341..2b9fa2d42 100644
--- a/src/swanctl/commands/load_pools.c
+++ b/src/swanctl/commands/load_pools.c
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ int load_pools_cfg(vici_conn_t *conn, command_format_options_t format,
 	}
 	if (found == 0)
 	{
-		printf("no pools found, %u unloaded\n", unloaded);
+		fprintf(stderr, "no pools found, %u unloaded\n", unloaded);
 		return 0;
 	}
 	if (loaded == found)