diff --git a/slirp/misc.c b/slirp/misc.c
index c76ad8fefd..05f4fb329f 100644
--- a/slirp/misc.c
+++ b/slirp/misc.c
@@ -200,14 +200,8 @@ fork_exec(struct socket *so, const char *ex, int do_pty)
 		execvp(argv[0], (char **)argv);
 
 		/* Ooops, failed, let's tell the user why */
-		  {
-			  char buff[256];
-
-			  snprintf(buff, sizeof(buff),
-                                   "Error: execvp of %s failed: %s\n",
-                                   argv[0], strerror(errno));
-			  write(2, buff, strlen(buff)+1);
-		  }
+        fprintf(stderr, "Error: execvp of %s failed: %s\n",
+                argv[0], strerror(errno));
 		close(0); close(1); close(2); /* XXX */
 		exit(1);