diff --git a/openbis/dist/server/startup.sh b/openbis/dist/server/startup.sh
index 82c1c0badf9aa03c99a5bf7ae45f05312d78617e..39ea1e4d3946b62f208917f404de1ec080909897 100755
--- a/openbis/dist/server/startup.sh
+++ b/openbis/dist/server/startup.sh
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ checkNotRoot
 
 `dirname "$0"`/status.sh -q
 if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
-  echo openBIS AS already running, shut it down before starting a new one.
+  echo openBIS AS already running, shut it down before starting a new one. > /dev/stderr
   exit 1
 fi