diff --git a/src/lib-master/master-service-settings.c b/src/lib-master/master-service-settings.c
index a2390ea771..925d63c171 100644
--- a/src/lib-master/master-service-settings.c
+++ b/src/lib-master/master-service-settings.c
@@ -589,7 +589,13 @@ int master_service_settings_read(struct master_service *service,
 		const char *path = t_strdup_printf("%s/%s",
 			service->set->base_dir,
 			service->set->stats_writer_socket_path);
-		service->stats_client = stats_client_init(path);
+		/* When running standalone (e.g. doveadm) try to connect to the
+		   stats socket, but don't log an error if it's not running.
+		   It may be intentional. */
+		bool silent_notfound_errors =
+			(service->flags & MASTER_SERVICE_FLAG_STANDALONE) != 0;
+		service->stats_client =
+			stats_client_init(path, silent_notfound_errors);
 	} T_END;
 
 	if (service->set->shutdown_clients)
diff --git a/src/lib-master/stats-client.c b/src/lib-master/stats-client.c
index f07760a6a8..921d5cf774 100644
--- a/src/lib-master/stats-client.c
+++ b/src/lib-master/stats-client.c
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ struct stats_client {
 	struct timeout *to_reconnect;
 	bool handshaked;
 	bool handshake_received_at_least_once;
+	bool silent_notfound_errors;
 };
 
 static struct connection_list *stats_clients;
@@ -307,17 +308,19 @@ static void stats_client_send_registered_categories(struct stats_client *client)
 
 static void stats_client_connect(struct stats_client *client)
 {
-	if (connection_client_connect(&client->conn) < 0)
-		i_error("net_connect_unix(%s) failed: %m", client->conn.name);
-	else {
+	if (connection_client_connect(&client->conn) == 0) {
 		/* read the handshake so the global debug filter is updated */
 		stats_client_send_registered_categories(client);
 		if (!client->handshake_received_at_least_once)
 			stats_client_wait_handshake(client);
+	} else if (!client->silent_notfound_errors ||
+		   (errno != ENOENT && errno != ECONNREFUSED)) {
+		i_error("net_connect_unix(%s) failed: %m", client->conn.name);
 	}
 }
 
-struct stats_client *stats_client_init(const char *path)
+struct stats_client *
+stats_client_init(const char *path, bool silent_notfound_errors)
 {
 	struct stats_client *client;
 
@@ -325,6 +328,7 @@ struct stats_client *stats_client_init(const char *path)
 		stats_global_init();
 
 	client = i_new(struct stats_client, 1);
+	client->silent_notfound_errors = silent_notfound_errors;
 	connection_init_client_unix(stats_clients, &client->conn, path);
 	stats_client_connect(client);
 	return client;
diff --git a/src/lib-master/stats-client.h b/src/lib-master/stats-client.h
index fb0ca082b5..c20bf5d8cc 100644
--- a/src/lib-master/stats-client.h
+++ b/src/lib-master/stats-client.h
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 #ifndef STATS_CLIENT_H
 #define STATS_CLIENT_H
 
-struct stats_client *stats_client_init(const char *path);
+struct stats_client *
+stats_client_init(const char *path, bool silent_notfound_errors);
 void stats_client_deinit(struct stats_client **client);
 
 #endif