diff --git a/imas/backends/imas_core/imas_interface.py b/imas/backends/imas_core/imas_interface.py
index 6e463302..064508d7 100644
--- a/imas/backends/imas_core/imas_interface.py
+++ b/imas/backends/imas_core/imas_interface.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
     has_imas = False
     imasdef = None
     lowlevel = None
-    logger.critical(
+    logger.warning(
         "Could not import 'imas_core': %s. Some functionality is not available.",
         exc,
     )