diff --git a/common/msg.c b/common/msg.c
index 3e6bad2418..99bc82d06f 100644
--- a/common/msg.c
+++ b/common/msg.c
@@ -194,8 +194,7 @@ int mp_msg_level(struct mp_log *log)
 
 static inline int term_msg_fileno(struct mp_log_root *root, int lev)
 {
-    return (root->force_stderr || lev == MSGL_STATUS || lev == MSGL_FATAL ||
-            lev == MSGL_ERR || lev == MSGL_WARN) ? STDERR_FILENO : STDOUT_FILENO;
+    return root->force_stderr ? STDERR_FILENO : STDOUT_FILENO;
 }
 
 // Reposition cursor and clear lines for outputting the status line. In certain