diff --git a/cmds/portmaster-start/service_windows.go b/cmds/portmaster-start/service_windows.go
index f969b060..f43b632a 100644
--- a/cmds/portmaster-start/service_windows.go
+++ b/cmds/portmaster-start/service_windows.go
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	"golang.org/x/sys/windows/svc"
 	"golang.org/x/sys/windows/svc/debug"
-	"golang.org/x/sys/windows/svc/eventlog"
 )
 
 var (
@@ -102,17 +101,6 @@ func runService(_ *cobra.Command, opts *Options, cmdArgs []string) error {
 		svcRun = debug.Run
 	}
 
-	// open eventlog
-	elog, err := eventlog.Open(serviceName)
-	if err != nil {
-		logControlError(fmt.Errorf("failed to open eventlog: %s", err))
-	}
-	defer func() {
-		if elog != nil {
-			elog.Close()
-		}
-	}()
-
 	runWg.Add(2)
 	finishWg.Add(1)
 
@@ -138,9 +126,6 @@ func runService(_ *cobra.Command, opts *Options, cmdArgs []string) error {
 	err = getShutdownError()
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Printf("%s service experienced an error: %s\n", serviceName, err)
-		if elog != nil {
-			_ = elog.Error(1, fmt.Sprintf("%s experienced an error: %s", serviceName, err))
-		}
 	}
 
 	return err