diff --git a/cluster/cluster.go b/cluster/cluster.go
index f44091cb..5881a7e7 100644
--- a/cluster/cluster.go
+++ b/cluster/cluster.go
@@ -217,6 +217,9 @@ func (p *Peer) Join(
 	n, err := p.mlist.Join(p.resolvedPeers)
 	if err != nil {
 		level.Warn(p.logger).Log("msg", "failed to join cluster", "err", err)
+		if reconnectInterval != 0 {
+			level.Info(p.logger).Log("msg", fmt.Sprintf("will retry joining cluster every %v", reconnectInterval.String()))
+		}
 	} else {
 		level.Debug(p.logger).Log("msg", "joined cluster", "peers", n)
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/alertmanager/main.go b/cmd/alertmanager/main.go
index e331b566..4e0aa6d8 100644
--- a/cmd/alertmanager/main.go
+++ b/cmd/alertmanager/main.go
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ func main() {
 			*probeInterval,
 		)
 		if err != nil {
-			level.Error(logger).Log("msg", "Unable to initialize gossip mesh", "err", err)
+			level.Error(logger).Log("msg", "unable to initialize gossip mesh", "err", err)
 			os.Exit(1)
 		}
 	}
@@ -262,8 +262,7 @@ func main() {
 			*peerReconnectTimeout,
 		)
 		if err != nil {
-			level.Error(logger).Log("msg", "Unable to join gossip mesh", "err", err)
-			os.Exit(1)
+			level.Warn(logger).Log("msg", "unable to join gossip mesh", "err", err)
 		}
 		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), *settleTimeout)
 		defer func() {