diff --git a/onnxruntime/core/platform/windows/logging/etw_sink.cc b/onnxruntime/core/platform/windows/logging/etw_sink.cc
index 9e58b79c36..950ac247a2 100644
--- a/onnxruntime/core/platform/windows/logging/etw_sink.cc
+++ b/onnxruntime/core/platform/windows/logging/etw_sink.cc
@@ -160,7 +160,9 @@ void EtwRegistrationManager::LazyInitialize() {
       if (FAILED(etw_status_)) {
         // Registration can fail when running under Low Integrity process, and should be non-fatal
         initialization_status_ = InitializationStatus::Failed;
-        LOGS_DEFAULT(WARNING) << "Error in ETW registration: " << std::to_string(etw_status_);
+        // Injection of ETW logger can happen very early if ETW provider was already listening.
+        // Don't use LOGS_DEFAULT here or can get "Attempt to use DefaultLogger but none has been registered"
+        std::cerr << "Error in ETW registration: " << std::to_string(etw_status_) << std::endl;
       }
       initialization_status_ = InitializationStatus::Initialized;
     }