diff --git a/src/core/nm-core-utils.c b/src/core/nm-core-utils.c
index c8b789b30a..9b75519558 100644
--- a/src/core/nm-core-utils.c
+++ b/src/core/nm-core-utils.c
@@ -411,10 +411,10 @@ _kc_cb_timeout_grace_period(void *user_data)
                        errsv);
         }
     } else {
-        nm_log_dbg(data->log_domain,
-                   "%s: process not terminated after %ld usec. Sending SIGKILL signal",
-                   data->log_name,
-                   (long) (nm_utils_get_monotonic_timestamp_usec() - data->async.wait_start_us));
+        nm_log_warn(data->log_domain,
+                    "%s: process not terminated after %ld usec. Sending SIGKILL signal",
+                    data->log_name,
+                    (long) (nm_utils_get_monotonic_timestamp_usec() - data->async.wait_start_us));
     }
 
     return G_SOURCE_REMOVE;
diff --git a/src/core/tests/test-core-with-expect.c b/src/core/tests/test-core-with-expect.c
index eca098c438..29a14c0a90 100644
--- a/src/core/tests/test-core-with-expect.c
+++ b/src/core/tests/test-core-with-expect.c
@@ -369,8 +369,8 @@ do_test_nm_utils_kill_child(void)
 
     NMTST_EXPECT_NM_DEBUG("kill child process 'test-a-1-3' (*): wait for process to terminate "
                           "after sending no signal (0) (send SIGKILL in 1 milliseconds)...");
-    NMTST_EXPECT_NM_DEBUG("kill child process 'test-a-1-3' (*): process not terminated after * "
-                          "usec. Sending SIGKILL signal");
+    NMTST_EXPECT_NM_WARN("kill child process 'test-a-1-3' (*): process not terminated after * "
+                         "usec. Sending SIGKILL signal");
     NMTST_EXPECT_NM_DEBUG(
         "kill child process 'test-a-1-3' (*): terminated by signal 9 (* usec elapsed)");
     test_nm_utils_kill_child_async_do("test-a-1-3", pid1a_3, 0, 1, TRUE, &expected_signal_KILL);
@@ -405,8 +405,8 @@ do_test_nm_utils_kill_child(void)
 
     NMTST_EXPECT_NM_DEBUG("kill child process 'test-a-4' (*): wait for process to terminate after "
                           "sending SIGTERM (15) (send SIGKILL in 1 milliseconds)...");
-    NMTST_EXPECT_NM_DEBUG("kill child process 'test-a-4' (*): process not terminated after * usec. "
-                          "Sending SIGKILL signal");
+    NMTST_EXPECT_NM_WARN("kill child process 'test-a-4' (*): process not terminated after * usec. "
+                         "Sending SIGKILL signal");
     NMTST_EXPECT_NM_DEBUG(
         "kill child process 'test-a-4' (*): terminated by signal 9 (* usec elapsed)");
     test_nm_utils_kill_child_async_do("test-a-4", pid4a, SIGTERM, 1, TRUE, &expected_signal_KILL);