diff --git a/vms/avm/vm.go b/vms/avm/vm.go
index b055dd23e6bc..478b91684dd8 100644
--- a/vms/avm/vm.go
+++ b/vms/avm/vm.go
@@ -445,10 +445,12 @@ func (vm *VM) Linearize(_ context.Context, stopVertexID ids.ID, toEngine chan<-
 	go func() {
 		err := vm.state.Prune(&vm.ctx.Lock, vm.ctx.Log)
 		if err != nil {
-			vm.ctx.Log.Error("state pruning failed",
+			vm.ctx.Log.Warn("state pruning failed",
 				zap.Error(err),
 			)
+			return
 		}
+		vm.ctx.Log.Info("state pruning finished")
 	}()
 
 	return nil