diff --git a/src/operators/operator.cc b/src/operators/operator.cc
index 935add621..729104239 100644
--- a/src/operators/operator.cc
+++ b/src/operators/operator.cc
@@ -109,8 +109,9 @@ std::string Operator::resolveMatchMessage(Transaction *t,
     std::string ret = m_match_message;
 
     if (ret.empty() == true) {
+        const std::string opName = (m_negation ? "!" : "") + m_op;
         if (m_couldContainsMacro == false) {
-            ret = "Matched \"Operator `" + m_op + "' with parameter `" +
+            ret = "Matched \"Operator `" + opName + "' with parameter `" +
                 utils::string::limitTo(200, m_param) +
                 "' against variable `" + utils::string::toHexIfNeeded(key) + "' (Value: `" +
                 utils::string::limitTo(100,
@@ -118,7 +119,7 @@ std::string Operator::resolveMatchMessage(Transaction *t,
                 "' )";
         } else {
             std::string p(m_string->evaluate(t));
-            ret = "Matched \"Operator `" + m_op + "' with parameter `" +
+            ret = "Matched \"Operator `" + opName + "' with parameter `" +
                 utils::string::limitTo(200, p) +
                 "' against variable `" + utils::string::toHexIfNeeded(key) + "' (Value: `" +
                 utils::string::limitTo(100,
diff --git a/src/rule_with_operator.cc b/src/rule_with_operator.cc
index 9c356b8fb..90793446f 100644
--- a/src/rule_with_operator.cc
+++ b/src/rule_with_operator.cc
@@ -227,6 +227,8 @@ bool RuleWithOperator::evaluate(Transaction *trans,
         return true;
     }
 
+    const std::string opName = (m_operator->m_negation ? "!" : "") + m_operator->m_op;
+
     if (m_operator->m_string) {
         eparam = m_operator->m_string->evaluate(trans);
 
@@ -236,15 +238,16 @@ bool RuleWithOperator::evaluate(Transaction *trans,
         } else {
             eparam = "\"" + eparam + "\"";
         }
-    ms_dbg_a(trans, 4, "(Rule: " + std::to_string(m_ruleId) \
-        + ") Executing operator \"" + getOperatorName() \
-        + "\" with param " \
-        + eparam \
-        + " against " \
-        + m_variables + ".");
+    
+        ms_dbg_a(trans, 4, "(Rule: " + std::to_string(m_ruleId) \
+            + ") Executing operator \"" + opName \
+            + "\" with param " \
+            + eparam \
+            + " against " \
+            + m_variables + ".");
     } else {
         ms_dbg_a(trans, 4, "(Rule: " + std::to_string(m_ruleId) \
-            + ") Executing operator \"" + getOperatorName() \
+            + ") Executing operator \"" + opName \
             + " against " \
             + m_variables + ".");
     }
diff --git a/test/test-cases/regression/auditlog.json b/test/test-cases/regression/auditlog.json
index f4d660987..8b55bf81d 100644
--- a/test/test-cases/regression/auditlog.json
+++ b/test/test-cases/regression/auditlog.json
@@ -883,5 +883,56 @@
       "SecAuditLogFileMode 0600",
       "SecAuditLogType Serial"
     ]
+  },
+  {
+    "enabled": 1,
+    "version_min": 300000,
+    "version_max": 0,
+    "title": "auditlog : negated operator is rendered with `!` prefix in match message",
+    "client": {
+      "ip": "200.249.12.31",
+      "port": 2313
+    },
+    "server": {
+      "ip": "200.249.12.31",
+      "port": 80
+    },
+    "request": {
+      "headers": {
+        "Host": "www.modsecurity.org",
+        "User-Agent": "curl/7.38.0",
+        "Accept": "*/*",
+        "Content-Length": "0"
+      },
+      "uri": "/test.pl?param1=hello",
+      "method": "GET",
+      "http_version": 1.1,
+      "body": [
+        ""
+      ]
+    },
+    "response": {
+      "headers": {
+        "Content-Type": "plain/text\n\r",
+        "Content-Length": "4"
+      },
+      "body": [
+        "test"
+      ]
+    },
+    "expected": {
+      "audit_log": "Operator `!Contains'",
+      "http_code": 403
+    },
+    "rules": [
+      "SecRuleEngine On",
+      "SecRule ARGS \"!@contains world\" \"id:1902,phase:1,deny,auditlog\"",
+      "SecAuditEngine On",
+      "SecAuditLogParts ABCFHZ",
+      "SecAuditLog /tmp/audit_test_negated_operator.log",
+      "SecAuditLogDirMode 0766",
+      "SecAuditLogFileMode 0600",
+      "SecAuditLogType Serial"
+    ]
   }
 ]
diff --git a/test/test-cases/regression/operator-rx.json b/test/test-cases/regression/operator-rx.json
index 917a67d1b..2a70bfebd 100644
--- a/test/test-cases/regression/operator-rx.json
+++ b/test/test-cases/regression/operator-rx.json
@@ -83,8 +83,8 @@
       ]
     },
     "expected": {
-      "debug_log": "Executing operator \"Rx\" with param \"\\^0\\$\"",
-      "error_log": "Matched \"Operator `Rx' with parameter `\\^0\\$'",
+      "debug_log": "Executing operator \"!Rx\" with param \"\\^0\\$\"",
+      "error_log": "Matched \"Operator `!Rx' with parameter `\\^0\\$'",
       "http_code": 200
     },
     "rules": [