diff --git a/internal/logger/common.go b/internal/logger/common.go
index 8cd118422..f6db8ac43 100644
--- a/internal/logger/common.go
+++ b/internal/logger/common.go
@@ -98,21 +98,23 @@ import (
 //
 // Different logger types implement different fallback strategies based on their purpose:
 //
-// 1. FileLogger - Stdout Fallback:
+// 1. FileLogger - Stderr Fallback:
 //    - Purpose: Operational logs must always be visible
-//    - Fallback: Redirects to stdout if log directory/file creation fails
+//    - Fallback: Redirects to stderr if log directory/file creation fails
+//              (stderr is used, not stdout, to avoid corrupting the stdout
+//               JSON channel that callers use to receive gateway config output)
 //    - Error: Returns nil (never fails, always provides output)
 //    - Use case: Critical operational messages that must be seen
 //
 //    Example error handler:
 //    func(err error, logDir, fileName string) (*FileLogger, error) {
 //        log.Printf("WARNING: Failed to initialize log file: %v", err)
-//        log.Printf("WARNING: Falling back to stdout for logging")
+//        log.Printf("WARNING: Falling back to stderr for logging")
 //        return &FileLogger{
 //            logDir:      logDir,
 //            fileName:    fileName,
 //            useFallback: true,
-//            logger:      log.New(os.Stdout, "", 0),
+//            logger:      log.New(os.Stderr, "", 0),
 //        }, nil
 //    }
 //
diff --git a/internal/logger/file_logger.go b/internal/logger/file_logger.go
index f270263e9..2ddc6d01e 100644
--- a/internal/logger/file_logger.go
+++ b/internal/logger/file_logger.go
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"sync"
 )
 
-// FileLogger manages logging to a file with fallback to stdout
+// FileLogger manages logging to a file with fallback to stderr
 type FileLogger struct {
 	lockable
 	logFile     *os.File
@@ -35,14 +35,16 @@ func setupFileLogger(file *os.File, logDir, fileName string) (*FileLogger, error
 	return fl, nil
 }
 
-// handleFileLoggerError falls back to stdout when the log file cannot be opened.
+// handleFileLoggerError falls back to stderr when the log file cannot be opened.
+// Stderr is used (not stdout) to avoid corrupting the stdout JSON channel that
+// callers use to receive the gateway configuration output.
 func handleFileLoggerError(err error, logDir, fileName string) (*FileLogger, error) {
-	logFallbackWarnings(err, "Failed to initialize log file", "Falling back to stdout for logging")
+	logFallbackWarnings(err, "Failed to initialize log file", "Falling back to stderr for logging")
 	fl := &FileLogger{
 		logDir:      logDir,
 		fileName:    fileName,
 		useFallback: true,
-		logger:      log.New(os.Stdout, "", 0),
+		logger:      log.New(os.Stderr, "", 0),
 	}
 	return fl, nil
 }
@@ -54,7 +56,7 @@ var fileLoggerFactory = loggerFactory[*FileLogger]{
 }
 
 // InitFileLogger initializes the global file logger
-// If the log directory doesn't exist and can't be created, falls back to stdout
+// If the log directory doesn't exist and can't be created, falls back to stderr
 func InitFileLogger(logDir, fileName string) error {
 	logger, err := initLogger(logDir, fileName, os.O_APPEND, fileLoggerFactory)
 	initGlobalLogger(&globalLoggerMu, &globalFileLogger, logger)
@@ -103,7 +105,7 @@ func (fl *FileLogger) GetWriter() io.Writer {
 	if fl.logFile != nil {
 		return fl.logFile
 	}
-	return os.Stdout
+	return os.Stderr
 }
 
 // Global logging functions that use the global file logger
diff --git a/internal/logger/file_logger_test.go b/internal/logger/file_logger_test.go
index d3b71af52..07349a3a9 100644
--- a/internal/logger/file_logger_test.go
+++ b/internal/logger/file_logger_test.go
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ func TestFileLoggerFlushes(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 // TestFileLogger_GetWriter verifies GetWriter returns the underlying file for a real
-// logger and os.Stdout for the fallback logger.
+// logger and os.Stderr for the fallback logger.
 func TestFileLogger_GetWriter(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("real logger returns file writer", func(t *testing.T) {
 		tmpDir := t.TempDir()
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ func TestFileLogger_GetWriter(t *testing.T) {
 		assert.True(t, isFile, "GetWriter should return *os.File for real logger")
 	})
 
-	t.Run("fallback logger returns stdout", func(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("fallback logger returns stderr", func(t *testing.T) {
 		err := InitFileLogger("/root/nonexistent/directory", "test.log")
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		defer CloseGlobalLogger()
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ func TestFileLogger_GetWriter(t *testing.T) {
 		require.NotNil(t, logger)
 		if logger.useFallback {
 			w := logger.GetWriter()
-			assert.Equal(t, os.Stdout, w, "Fallback logger GetWriter should return os.Stdout")
+			assert.Equal(t, os.Stderr, w, "Fallback logger GetWriter should return os.Stderr")
 		} else {
 			t.Skip("System has permissions to write to /root; cannot test fallback path")
 		}