diff --git a/selfdrive/pandad/spi.cc b/selfdrive/pandad/spi.cc
index d365dd3620..108b11b9dc 100644
--- a/selfdrive/pandad/spi.cc
+++ b/selfdrive/pandad/spi.cc
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ int PandaSpiHandle::spi_transfer_retry(uint8_t endpoint, uint8_t *tx_data, uint1
         // due to full TX buffers
         nack_count += 1;
         if (nack_count > 3) {
-          SPILOG(LOGE, "NACK sleep %d", nack_count);
+          SPILOG(LOGD, "NACK sleep %d", nack_count);
           usleep(std::clamp(nack_count*10, 200, 2000));
         }
       }