diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 0c6e3489d..b08f293a5 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ AC_CONFIG_HEADER([src/include/ngspice/config.h])
 
 # Initialise automake stuff
 AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([-Wall -Werror nostdinc serial-tests])
-m4_ifdef([AM_SILENT_RULES], [AM_SILENT_RULES([no])])
+m4_ifdef([AM_SILENT_RULES], [AM_SILENT_RULES([yes])])
 
 ext_CFLAGS="${CFLAGS+yes}"