diff --git a/panda/src/display/graphicsEngine.cxx b/panda/src/display/graphicsEngine.cxx
index 3ca68c565e..091a6d95a1 100644
--- a/panda/src/display/graphicsEngine.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/display/graphicsEngine.cxx
@@ -444,7 +444,8 @@ make_output(GraphicsPipe *pipe,
       } else {
         display_cat.info()
           << window->get_type() << " wouldn't open; abandoning.\n";
-        cerr << window->get_fb_properties() << "\n";
+        display_cat.debug(false)
+          << "  requested: " << fb_prop << "\n";
       }
 
       // No good; delete the window and keep trying.