diff --git a/scripts/suricatasc/suricatasc.in b/scripts/suricatasc/suricatasc.in
index 6c33ba3237..63b4ebfaf5 100755
--- a/scripts/suricatasc/suricatasc.in
+++ b/scripts/suricatasc/suricatasc.in
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@
 # Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307, USA.
 
 
+from __future__ import print_function
+import sys
 import argparse
 from suricatasc import *
 
@@ -33,10 +35,10 @@ sc = SuricataSC(SOCKET_PATH, verbose=args.verbose)
 try:
     sc.connect()
 except SuricataNetException as err:
-    print("Unable to connect to socket %s: %s" % (SOCKET_PATH, err))
+    print("Unable to connect to socket %s: %s" % (SOCKET_PATH, err), file=sys.stderr)
     sys.exit(1)
 except SuricataReturnException as err:
-    print("Unable to negotiate version with server: %s" % (err))
+    print("Unable to negotiate version with server: %s" % (err), file=sys.stderr)
     sys.exit(1)
 
 if args.command: