diff --git a/cmd/dockerd/daemon.go b/cmd/dockerd/daemon.go
index 5637d275fe..3d4184b171 100644
--- a/cmd/dockerd/daemon.go
+++ b/cmd/dockerd/daemon.go
@@ -227,7 +227,9 @@ func (cli *daemonCLI) start(ctx context.Context) (err error) {
 	}()
 
 	// Notify that the API is active, but before daemon is set up.
-	preNotifyReady()
+	if err := preNotifyReady(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 
 	const otelServiceNameEnv = "OTEL_SERVICE_NAME"
 	if _, ok := os.LookupEnv(otelServiceNameEnv); !ok {
diff --git a/cmd/dockerd/daemon_freebsd.go b/cmd/dockerd/daemon_freebsd.go
index ca230a22fe..d1293485a6 100644
--- a/cmd/dockerd/daemon_freebsd.go
+++ b/cmd/dockerd/daemon_freebsd.go
@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@ package main
 import "github.com/docker/docker/daemon/config"
 
 // preNotifyReady sends a message to the host when the API is active, but before the daemon is
-func preNotifyReady() {
+func preNotifyReady() error {
+	return nil
 }
 
 // notifyReady sends a message to the host when the server is ready to be used
diff --git a/cmd/dockerd/daemon_linux.go b/cmd/dockerd/daemon_linux.go
index 43f869bca6..b375459c67 100644
--- a/cmd/dockerd/daemon_linux.go
+++ b/cmd/dockerd/daemon_linux.go
@@ -26,7 +26,8 @@ func setPlatformOptions(conf *config.Config) error {
 }
 
 // preNotifyReady sends a message to the host when the API is active, but before the daemon is
-func preNotifyReady() {
+func preNotifyReady() error {
+	return nil
 }
 
 // notifyReady sends a message to the host when the server is ready to be used
diff --git a/cmd/dockerd/daemon_windows.go b/cmd/dockerd/daemon_windows.go
index bd17c1dc60..8bbbae8457 100644
--- a/cmd/dockerd/daemon_windows.go
+++ b/cmd/dockerd/daemon_windows.go
@@ -41,15 +41,16 @@ func setDefaultUmask() error {
 }
 
 // preNotifyReady sends a message to the host when the API is active, but before the daemon is
-func preNotifyReady() {
+func preNotifyReady() error {
 	// start the service now to prevent timeouts waiting for daemon to start
 	// but still (eventually) complete all requests that are sent after this
 	if service != nil {
 		err := service.started()
 		if err != nil {
-			log.G(context.TODO()).Fatal(err)
+			return err
 		}
 	}
+	return nil
 }
 
 // notifyReady sends a message to the host when the server is ready to be used
@@ -63,9 +64,6 @@ func notifyStopping() {
 // notifyShutdown is called after the daemon shuts down but before the process exits.
 func notifyShutdown(err error) {
 	if service != nil {
-		if err != nil {
-			log.G(context.TODO()).Fatal(err)
-		}
 		service.stopped(err)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/cmd/dockerd/docker_windows.go b/cmd/dockerd/docker_windows.go
index d133bb88ca..1b17b0c36b 100644
--- a/cmd/dockerd/docker_windows.go
+++ b/cmd/dockerd/docker_windows.go
@@ -26,6 +26,11 @@ func runDaemon(ctx context.Context, cli *daemonCLI) error {
 	}
 
 	err = cli.start(ctx)
+	if service != nil {
+		// When running as a service, log the error, so that it's sent to
+		// the event-log.
+		log.G(ctx).Error(err)
+	}
 	notifyShutdown(err)
 	return err
 }