diff --git a/src/mqtt/MQTT.cpp b/src/mqtt/MQTT.cpp
index 802628211..808b089a6 100644
--- a/src/mqtt/MQTT.cpp
+++ b/src/mqtt/MQTT.cpp
@@ -628,7 +628,7 @@ bool MQTT::isValidConfig(const meshtastic_ModuleConfig_MQTTConfig &config, MQTTC
         const char *warning = "Invalid MQTT config: proxy_to_client_enabled must be enabled on nodes that do not have a network";
         LOG_ERROR(warning);
         meshtastic_ClientNotification *cn = clientNotificationPool.allocZeroed();
-        cn->level = meshtastic_LogRecord_Level_WARNING;
+        cn->level = meshtastic_LogRecord_Level_ERROR;
         cn->time = getValidTime(RTCQualityFromNet);
         strcpy(cn->message, warning);
         service->sendClientNotification(cn);