--- logrotate.c
+++ logrotate.c
@@ -898,7 +898,7 @@
 		now.tm_mon + 1, now.tm_mday, fileext);
 	sprintf(destFile, "%s%s", rotNames->finalName, compext);
 	if (!stat(destFile, &fst_buf)) {
-	    message(MESS_DEBUG,
+	    message(MESS_ERROR,
 		    "destination %s already exists, skipping rotation\n",
 		    rotNames->firstRotated);
 	    hasErrors = 1;