diff --git a/src/nm-device-ethernet.c b/src/nm-device-ethernet.c
index 4c08baa326..6b4ca7b09e 100644
--- a/src/nm-device-ethernet.c
+++ b/src/nm-device-ethernet.c
@@ -439,7 +439,7 @@ update_permanent_hw_address (NMDevice *dev)
 	errno = 0;
 	ret = ioctl (fd, SIOCETHTOOL, &req);
 	if ((ret < 0) || !nm_ethernet_address_is_valid ((struct ether_addr *) epaddr->data)) {
-		nm_log_err (LOGD_HW | LOGD_ETHER, "(%s): unable to read permanent MAC address (error %d)",
+		nm_log_dbg (LOGD_HW | LOGD_ETHER, "(%s): unable to read permanent MAC address (error %d)",
 		            nm_device_get_iface (dev), errno);
 		/* Fall back to current address */
 		memcpy (epaddr->data, priv->hw_addr, ETH_ALEN);
diff --git a/src/nm-device-wifi.c b/src/nm-device-wifi.c
index 5a0fc21fe7..8676c09177 100644
--- a/src/nm-device-wifi.c
+++ b/src/nm-device-wifi.c
@@ -2855,7 +2855,7 @@ update_permanent_hw_address (NMDevice *dev)
 	errno = 0;
 	ret = ioctl (fd, SIOCETHTOOL, &req);
 	if ((ret < 0) || !nm_ethernet_address_is_valid ((struct ether_addr *) epaddr->data)) {
-		nm_log_err (LOGD_HW | LOGD_ETHER, "(%s): unable to read permanent MAC address (error %d)",
+		nm_log_dbg (LOGD_HW | LOGD_ETHER, "(%s): unable to read permanent MAC address (error %d)",
 		            nm_device_get_iface (dev), errno);
 		/* Fall back to current address */
 		memcpy (epaddr->data, &priv->hw_addr, ETH_ALEN);