diff --git a/src/analyzer/protocol/tcp/TCP.cc b/src/analyzer/protocol/tcp/TCP.cc
index cbf983b70a..aefc5a1808 100644
--- a/src/analyzer/protocol/tcp/TCP.cc
+++ b/src/analyzer/protocol/tcp/TCP.cc
@@ -1580,7 +1580,8 @@ BroFile* TCP_Analyzer::GetContentsFile(unsigned int direction) const
 	default:
 		break;
 	}
-	reporter->InternalWarning("bad direction %u in TCP_Analyzer::GetContentsFile",
+
+	reporter->Error("bad direction %u in TCP_Analyzer::GetContentsFile",
 	                direction);
 	return 0;
 	}