diff --git a/cmd/earlyinit/main.go b/cmd/earlyinit/main.go
index 00c4807a..b394eb32 100644
--- a/cmd/earlyinit/main.go
+++ b/cmd/earlyinit/main.go
@@ -203,8 +203,12 @@ func main() {
 	s := kobject.New(uuid, func(o *kobject.Object, env map[string]string) {
 		log.Printf("change %s: %q", o.DevPath, env)
 	}, func(err error) {
+		severity := report.Inconsistent
+		if e, ok := err.(kobject.EventError); ok && e.Kind == kobject.EBadTarget {
+			severity = report.Trivial
+		}
 		r.Dispatch(
-			report.Inconsistent,
+			severity,
 			"processed inconsistent uevent",
 			err,
 		)