diff --git a/library/kernel/file-system-harness.zig b/library/kernel/file-system-harness.zig
index 404795d..80d629f 100644
--- a/library/kernel/file-system-harness.zig
+++ b/library/kernel/file-system-harness.zig
@@ -307,7 +307,11 @@ pub fn Server(comptime Engine: type) type {
                 if (ok) {
                     std.log.info("mounted {s}", .{m.prefix});
                 } else {
-                    std.log.info("could not mount {s}", .{m.prefix});
+                    // The failure diagnostic goes to the kernel ring directly, not
+                    // through std.log — the mount that failed may be /system/logs
+                    // itself, and a routed record would then have nowhere to land.
+                    var line: [96]u8 = undefined;
+                    _ = logging.write(std.fmt.bufPrint(&line, "file-system: could not mount {s}\n", .{m.prefix}) catch "file-system: a mount failed\n");
                 }
             }
             mounted = true;