diff --git a/src/go/rpk/pkg/cli/redpanda/start.go b/src/go/rpk/pkg/cli/redpanda/start.go
index 9b662a9304b80..dfac0a9894be2 100644
--- a/src/go/rpk/pkg/cli/redpanda/start.go
+++ b/src/go/rpk/pkg/cli/redpanda/start.go
@@ -700,12 +700,12 @@ func check(
 			if action, exists := checkFailedActions[result.CheckerID]; exists {
 				action(&result)
 			}
-			msg := fmt.Sprintf("System check '%s' failed. Required: %v, Current %v, Error: %v",
-				result.Desc, result.Required, result.Current, result.Err)
+			msg := fmt.Sprintf("System check '%s' failed. Required: %v, Current %v, Error: %v, Severity: %v",
+				result.Desc, result.Required, result.Current, result.Err, result.Severity)
 			if result.Severity == tuners.Fatal {
 				return errors.New(msg)
 			}
-			fmt.Println(msg)
+			zap.L().Sugar().Warn(msg)
 		}
 	}
 	return nil
diff --git a/src/go/rpk/pkg/config/params.go b/src/go/rpk/pkg/config/params.go
index b35351015b648..5dd254b9511f2 100644
--- a/src/go/rpk/pkg/config/params.go
+++ b/src/go/rpk/pkg/config/params.go
@@ -1000,6 +1000,7 @@ func (p *Params) readRedpandaConfig(fs afero.Fs, c *Config) error {
 			if errors.Is(err, afero.ErrFileNotFound) {
 				continue
 			}
+			return fmt.Errorf("unable to read file in %v: %v", path, err)
 		}
 
 		if err := yaml.Unmarshal(file, &c.redpandaYaml); err != nil {
diff --git a/src/go/rpk/pkg/tuners/kernel_version.go b/src/go/rpk/pkg/tuners/kernel_version.go
index 9f35c869238da..847cd629aa150 100644
--- a/src/go/rpk/pkg/tuners/kernel_version.go
+++ b/src/go/rpk/pkg/tuners/kernel_version.go
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ package tuners
 import "fmt"
 
 const (
-	ExpectedKernelVersion string = "4.19"
+	ExpectedKernelVersion string = "3.19"
 )
 
 func NewKernelVersionChecker(
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ func (kernelVersionChecker) GetSeverity() Severity {
 }
 
 func (kernelVersionChecker) GetRequiredAsString() string {
-	return "4.19"
+	return ExpectedKernelVersion
 }
 
 func (c kernelVersionChecker) Check() *CheckResult {
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ func (c kernelVersionChecker) Check() *CheckResult {
 		return res
 	}
 
-	if major < 4 || major == 4 && minor < 19 {
+	if major < 3 || major == 3 && minor < 19 {
 		res.Err = fmt.Errorf("%s", "kernel version is too old")
 		return res
 	}
diff --git a/src/go/rpk/pkg/tuners/kernel_version_test.go b/src/go/rpk/pkg/tuners/kernel_version_test.go
index 2f6405f312f86..6f7cfe7016b93 100644
--- a/src/go/rpk/pkg/tuners/kernel_version_test.go
+++ b/src/go/rpk/pkg/tuners/kernel_version_test.go
@@ -30,28 +30,28 @@ func Test_kernelVersionChecker_Check(t *testing.T) {
 			name:           "Shall return valid result when condition is met",
 			check:          func(c int) bool { return c == 26 },
 			renderRequired: func() string { return "0" },
-			getCurrent:     func() (string, error) { return "4.19.0", nil },
+			getCurrent:     func() (string, error) { return "3.19.0", nil },
 			want: &CheckResult{
 				CheckerID: KernelVersion,
 				IsOk:      true,
-				Current:   "4.19.0",
+				Current:   "3.19.0",
 				Desc:      "Kernel Version",
 				Severity:  Warning,
-				Required:  "4.19",
+				Required:  "3.19",
 			},
 		},
 		{
 			name:           "Shall return valid result when minor is higher",
 			check:          func(c int) bool { return c == 26 },
 			renderRequired: func() string { return "0" },
-			getCurrent:     func() (string, error) { return "4.20.0", nil },
+			getCurrent:     func() (string, error) { return "3.20.0", nil },
 			want: &CheckResult{
 				CheckerID: KernelVersion,
 				IsOk:      true,
-				Current:   "4.20.0",
+				Current:   "3.20.0",
 				Desc:      "Kernel Version",
 				Severity:  Warning,
-				Required:  "4.19",
+				Required:  "3.19",
 			},
 		},
 		{
@@ -65,21 +65,21 @@ func Test_kernelVersionChecker_Check(t *testing.T) {
 				Current:   "5.1.0",
 				Desc:      "Kernel Version",
 				Severity:  Warning,
-				Required:  "4.19",
+				Required:  "3.19",
 			},
 		},
 		{
 			name:           "Shall return invalid result when minor is lower",
 			check:          func(c int) bool { return c == 26 },
 			renderRequired: func() string { return "0" },
-			getCurrent:     func() (string, error) { return "4.18.0", nil },
+			getCurrent:     func() (string, error) { return "3.18.0", nil },
 			want: &CheckResult{
 				CheckerID: KernelVersion,
 				IsOk:      false,
-				Current:   "4.18.0",
+				Current:   "3.18.0",
 				Desc:      "Kernel Version",
 				Severity:  Warning,
-				Required:  "4.19",
+				Required:  "3.19",
 				Err:       errors.New("kernel version is too old"),
 			},
 		},
@@ -87,14 +87,14 @@ func Test_kernelVersionChecker_Check(t *testing.T) {
 			name:           "Shall return invalid result when major is lower",
 			check:          func(c int) bool { return c == 26 },
 			renderRequired: func() string { return "0" },
-			getCurrent:     func() (string, error) { return "3.19.0", nil },
+			getCurrent:     func() (string, error) { return "2.19.0", nil },
 			want: &CheckResult{
 				CheckerID: KernelVersion,
 				IsOk:      false,
-				Current:   "3.19.0",
+				Current:   "2.19.0",
 				Desc:      "Kernel Version",
 				Severity:  Warning,
-				Required:  "4.19",
+				Required:  "3.19",
 				Err:       errors.New("kernel version is too old"),
 			},
 		},
@@ -102,14 +102,14 @@ func Test_kernelVersionChecker_Check(t *testing.T) {
 			name:           "Shall return invalid result when patch is missing",
 			check:          func(c int) bool { return c == 26 },
 			renderRequired: func() string { return "0" },
-			getCurrent:     func() (string, error) { return "4.19", nil },
+			getCurrent:     func() (string, error) { return "3.19", nil },
 			want: &CheckResult{
 				CheckerID: KernelVersion,
 				IsOk:      false,
-				Current:   "4.19",
+				Current:   "3.19",
 				Desc:      "Kernel Version",
 				Severity:  Warning,
-				Required:  "4.19",
+				Required:  "3.19",
 				Err:       errors.New("failed to parse kernel version"),
 			},
 		},
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ func Test_kernelVersionChecker_Check(t *testing.T) {
 				Current:   "5.8.0-19-generic",
 				Desc:      "Kernel Version",
 				Severity:  Warning,
-				Required:  "4.19",
+				Required:  "3.19",
 			},
 		},
 	}