diff --git a/cobra/cmd/testdata/root.go.golden b/cobra/cmd/testdata/root.go.golden
index d3b889baa6..45d5866a0c 100644
--- a/cobra/cmd/testdata/root.go.golden
+++ b/cobra/cmd/testdata/root.go.golden
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ to quickly create a Cobra application.`,
 // This is called by main.main(). It only needs to happen once to the rootCmd.
 func Execute() {
   if err := rootCmd.Execute(); err != nil {
-    fmt.Println(err)
+    fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, err)
     os.Exit(1)
   }
 }
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ func initConfig() {
     // Find home directory.
     home, err := homedir.Dir()
     if err != nil {
-      fmt.Println(err)
+      fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, err)
       os.Exit(1)
     }
 
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ func initConfig() {
 
   // If a config file is found, read it in.
   if err := viper.ReadInConfig(); err == nil {
-    fmt.Println("Using config file:", viper.ConfigFileUsed())
+    fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "Using config file:", viper.ConfigFileUsed())
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/cobra/tpl/main.go b/cobra/tpl/main.go
index 5e5a0fae25..0df124a478 100644
--- a/cobra/tpl/main.go
+++ b/cobra/tpl/main.go
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ to quickly create a Cobra application.` + "`" + `,
 // This is called by main.main(). It only needs to happen once to the rootCmd.
 func Execute() {
   if err := rootCmd.Execute(); err != nil {
-    fmt.Println(err)
+    fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, err)
     os.Exit(1)
   }
 }
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ func initConfig() {
     // Find home directory.
     home, err := homedir.Dir()
     if err != nil {
-      fmt.Println(err)
+      fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, err)
       os.Exit(1)
     }
 
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ func initConfig() {
 
   // If a config file is found, read it in.
   if err := viper.ReadInConfig(); err == nil {
-    fmt.Println("Using config file:", viper.ConfigFileUsed())
+    fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "Using config file:", viper.ConfigFileUsed())
   }
 }
 {{ end }}