diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 30ee097c..65a4930f 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@ AC_CANONICAL_TARGET
 AC_CONFIG_MACRO_DIR([m4])
 
 AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([subdir-objects])
+
+m4_ifdef([AM_SILENT_RULES], [AM_SILENT_RULES([yes])])
+
 AC_CONFIG_HEADERS([config.h])
 
 dnl Checks for command-line options