diff --git a/patroni/postmaster.py b/patroni/postmaster.py
index 99285bd3..0fd068ef 100644
--- a/patroni/postmaster.py
+++ b/patroni/postmaster.py
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ class PostmasterProcess(psutil.Process):
         cmdline = [pgcommand, '-D', data_dir, '--config-file={}'.format(conf)] + options
         logger.debug("Starting postgres: %s", " ".join(cmdline))
         proc = call_self(['pg_ctl_start'] + cmdline, close_fds=(os.name != 'nt'),
-                         stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.STDOUT, env=env)
+                         stdout=subprocess.PIPE, env=env)
         pid = int(proc.stdout.readline().strip())
         proc.wait()
         logger.info('postmaster pid=%s', pid)