diff --git a/src/etc/inc/authgui.inc b/src/etc/inc/authgui.inc
index 99d1ee9a0..0d14843b8 100644
--- a/src/etc/inc/authgui.inc
+++ b/src/etc/inc/authgui.inc
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ function session_auth()
     function auth_log($message, $prio = LOG_ERR)
     {
         openlog("audit", LOG_ODELAY, LOG_AUTH);
-        log_error($message, $prio);
+        log_msg($message, $prio);
         closelog();
     }
 
diff --git a/src/etc/inc/util.inc b/src/etc/inc/util.inc
index 5b64872be..0bf05060b 100644
--- a/src/etc/inc/util.inc
+++ b/src/etc/inc/util.inc
@@ -926,14 +926,27 @@ function get_interface_list($only_active = false, $include_dmesg = false)
 
 /****f* util/log_error
 * NAME
-*   log_error  - Sends a string to syslog.
+*   log_error  - Sends a string to syslog with LOG_ERR severity.
 * INPUTS
-*   $msg     - string containing the syslog message.
-*   $prio    - syslog severity level
+*   $error     - string containing the syslog message.
 * RESULT
 *   null
 ******/
-function log_error($msg, $prio = LOG_ERR)
+function log_error($error)
+{
+    log_msg($error, LOG_ERR);
+}
+
+/****f* util/log_msg
+* NAME
+*   log_msg  - Sends a string to syslog with the required severity level.
+* INPUTS
+*   $msg     - string containing the syslog message.
+*   $prio    - syslog severity level.
+* RESULT
+*   null
+******/
+function log_msg($msg, $prio = LOG_ERR)
 {
     $page = $_SERVER['SCRIPT_NAME'];
     if (empty($page)) {