diff --git a/journalist_gui/journalist_gui/SecureDropUpdater.py b/journalist_gui/journalist_gui/SecureDropUpdater.py
index 96f56a7708..3fbbedc57d 100644
--- a/journalist_gui/journalist_gui/SecureDropUpdater.py
+++ b/journalist_gui/journalist_gui/SecureDropUpdater.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 import pexpect
 import socket
 import sys
+import syslog as log
 
 from journalist_gui import updaterUI, strings, resources_rc  # noqa
 
@@ -35,9 +36,7 @@ def prevent_second_instance(app: QtWidgets.QApplication, name: str) -> None:  #
         app.instance_binding.bind(IDENTIFIER)
     except OSError as e:
         if e.errno == ALREADY_BOUND_ERRNO:
-            err_dialog = QtWidgets.QMessageBox()
-            err_dialog.setText(name + strings.app_is_already_running)
-            err_dialog.exec()
+            log.syslog(log.LOG_NOTICE, name + strings.app_is_already_running)
             sys.exit()
         else:
             raise
diff --git a/journalist_gui/test_gui.py b/journalist_gui/test_gui.py
index 10f99b1096..f5fed71bcf 100644
--- a/journalist_gui/test_gui.py
+++ b/journalist_gui/test_gui.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 
 
 @mock.patch('journalist_gui.SecureDropUpdater.sys.exit')
-@mock.patch('journalist_gui.SecureDropUpdater.QtWidgets.QMessageBox')
+@mock.patch('syslog.syslog')
 class TestSecondInstancePrevention(unittest.TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
         self.mock_app = mock.MagicMock()