diff --git a/changelog.d/16401.misc b/changelog.d/16401.misc
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..86d2749a088c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/16401.misc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Downgrade replication stream time out error log lines to warning.
diff --git a/synapse/replication/tcp/client.py b/synapse/replication/tcp/client.py
index 1c7946522a5e..f4f2b29e9655 100644
--- a/synapse/replication/tcp/client.py
+++ b/synapse/replication/tcp/client.py
@@ -339,7 +339,7 @@ async def wait_for_stream_position(
             try:
                 await make_deferred_yieldable(deferred)
             except defer.TimeoutError:
-                logger.error(
+                logger.warning(
                     "Timed out waiting for repl stream %r to reach %s (%s)"
                     "; currently at: %s",
                     stream_name,