diff --git a/mbtask/ping.c b/mbtask/ping.c
index 3ef8ee22..3dadfc26 100644
--- a/mbtask/ping.c
+++ b/mbtask/ping.c
@@ -222,7 +222,8 @@ int ping_send(struct in_addr addr)
 
     sentlen = sendto(ping_isocket, &icmpd, ICMP4_ECHO_LEN, 0, (struct sockaddr *)&to, sizeof(to));
     if (sentlen != ICMP4_ECHO_LEN) {
-	tasklog('+', "ping: sent %d octets, ret %d", ICMP4_ECHO_LEN, sentlen);
+	if (icmp_errs < ICMP_MAX_ERRS)
+	    tasklog('+', "ping: sent %d octets, ret %d", ICMP4_ECHO_LEN, sentlen);
 	return -2;
     }
     return 0;