diff --git a/cobra/cmd/testdata/root.go.golden b/cobra/cmd/testdata/root.go.golden
index 1db829c71..6a54a7837 100644
--- a/cobra/cmd/testdata/root.go.golden
+++ b/cobra/cmd/testdata/root.go.golden
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ 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)
 	}
 }
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ func initConfig() {
 		// Find home directory.
 		home, err := homedir.Dir()
 		if err != nil {
-			fmt.Println(err)
+			fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, err)
 			os.Exit(1)
 		}
 
@@ -86,6 +86,6 @@ 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 4348e5616..b5e2e1aeb 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)
 	}
 }
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ func initConfig() {
 		// Find home directory.
 		home, err := homedir.Dir()
 		if err != nil {
-			fmt.Println(err)
+			fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, err)
 			os.Exit(1)
 		}
 
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ 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 }}