diff --git a/WINGs/Examples/Makefile.am b/WINGs/Examples/Makefile.am
index 4a84abf4..94305bf5 100644
--- a/WINGs/Examples/Makefile.am
+++ b/WINGs/Examples/Makefile.am
@@ -29,4 +29,13 @@ server_LDADD = $(top_builddir)/WINGs/libWUtil.a @LIBRARY_SEARCH_PATH@ \
 INCLUDES = -I$(top_srcdir)/WINGs -I$(top_srcdir)/wrlib -I$(top_srcdir)/src \
 	-DRESOURCE_PATH=\"$(datadir)/WINGs\" @HEADER_SEARCH_PATH@ -DDEBUG
 
+LIBTOOL = $(QUIET) $(SHELL) $(top_srcdir)/libtool $(LIBTOOL_ARG)
 
+.c.o:
+	$(QUIET)$(COMPILE) -c $<
+
+.c.obj:
+	$(QUIET)$(COMPILE) -c `$(CYGPATH_W) '$<'`
+
+.c.lo:
+	$(QUIET)$(LTCOMPILE) -c -o $@ $<
diff --git a/WINGs/Extras/Makefile.am b/WINGs/Extras/Makefile.am
index eb96ebfe..db6d083d 100644
--- a/WINGs/Extras/Makefile.am
+++ b/WINGs/Extras/Makefile.am
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ noinst_PROGRAMS = test
 
 EXTRA_DIST = 
 
+libExtraWINGs_a_AR = $(QUIET_AR) $(AR) $(ARFLAGS)
+
 libExtraWINGs_a_SOURCES = 	\
 	wtableview.c \
 	wtabledelegates.c \
@@ -32,3 +34,13 @@ LDADD= $(top_builddir)/WINGs/libWINGs.a $(top_builddir)/wrlib/libwraster.la \
 
 test_LDADD = wtableview.o wtabledelegates.o $(LDADD)
 
+LIBTOOL = $(QUIET) $(SHELL) $(top_srcdir)/libtool $(LIBTOOL_ARG)
+
+.c.o:
+	$(QUIET)$(COMPILE) -c $<
+
+.c.obj:
+	$(QUIET)$(COMPILE) -c `$(CYGPATH_W) '$<'`
+
+.c.lo:
+	$(QUIET)$(LTCOMPILE) -c -o $@ $<
diff --git a/WINGs/Makefile.am b/WINGs/Makefile.am
index b27ad32f..ba52b083 100644
--- a/WINGs/Makefile.am
+++ b/WINGs/Makefile.am
@@ -4,7 +4,11 @@ AUTOMAKE_OPTIONS = no-dependencies
 
 SUBDIRS = WINGs . po Documentation Resources Examples Extras Tests
 
+LIBTOOL = $(QUIET) $(SHELL) $(top_srcdir)/libtool $(LIBTOOL_ARG)
 
+libWINGs_a_AR = $(QUIET_AR) $(AR) $(ARFLAGS)
+
+libWUtil_a_AR = $(QUIET_AR) $(AR) $(ARFLAGS)
 
 #libWINGs_la_LDFLAGS = -version-info 1:1:0
 
@@ -127,3 +131,12 @@ install-exec-local:
 	    $(INSTALL_DATA) $$p $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/pkgconfig/; \
 	  else :; fi; \
 	done
+
+.c.o:
+	$(QUIET)$(COMPILE) -c $<
+
+.c.obj:
+	$(QUIET)$(COMPILE) -c `$(CYGPATH_W) '$<'`
+
+.c.lo:
+	$(QUIET)$(LTCOMPILE) -c -o $@ $<
diff --git a/WINGs/Tests/Makefile.am b/WINGs/Tests/Makefile.am
index 96842c52..6b5e52d8 100644
--- a/WINGs/Tests/Makefile.am
+++ b/WINGs/Tests/Makefile.am
@@ -18,5 +18,14 @@ EXTRA_DIST = logo.xpm upbtn.xpm wm.html wm.png
 INCLUDES = -I$(top_srcdir)/WINGs -I$(top_srcdir)/wrlib -I$(top_srcdir)/src \
 	-DRESOURCE_PATH=\"$(datadir)/WINGs\" @XFTFLAGS@ @HEADER_SEARCH_PATH@ \
 	-DDEBUG
+	
+LIBTOOL = $(QUIET) $(SHELL) $(top_srcdir)/libtool $(LIBTOOL_ARG)
 
+.c.o:
+	$(QUIET)$(COMPILE) -c $<
 
+.c.obj:
+	$(QUIET)$(COMPILE) -c `$(CYGPATH_W) '$<'`
+
+.c.lo:
+	$(QUIET)$(LTCOMPILE) -c -o $@ $<
diff --git a/WINGs/WINGs/Makefile.am b/WINGs/WINGs/Makefile.am
index eb725be1..23a12232 100644
--- a/WINGs/WINGs/Makefile.am
+++ b/WINGs/WINGs/Makefile.am
@@ -7,3 +7,11 @@ includedir = @includedir@/WINGs
 
 include_HEADERS = WINGs.h WUtil.h WINGsP.h proplist-compat.h
 
+.c.o:
+	$(QUIET)$(COMPILE) -c $<
+
+.c.obj:
+	$(QUIET)$(COMPILE) -c `$(CYGPATH_W) '$<'`
+
+.c.lo:
+	$(QUIET)$(LTCOMPILE) -c -o $@ $<
diff --git a/WPrefs.app/Makefile.am b/WPrefs.app/Makefile.am
index 37269f95..2acf4bd8 100644
--- a/WPrefs.app/Makefile.am
+++ b/WPrefs.app/Makefile.am
@@ -56,3 +56,13 @@ WPrefs_LDADD = \
 	@XFTLIBS@ \
 	@INTLIBS@
 
+LIBTOOL = $(QUIET) $(SHELL) $(top_srcdir)/libtool $(LIBTOOL_ARG)
+
+.c.o:
+	$(QUIET)$(COMPILE) -c $<
+
+.c.obj:
+	$(QUIET)$(COMPILE) -c `$(CYGPATH_W) '$<'`
+
+.c.lo:
+	$(QUIET)$(LTCOMPILE) -c -o $@ $<
diff --git a/WindowMaker/Defaults/Makefile.am b/WindowMaker/Defaults/Makefile.am
index e5e057fc..553c7e96 100644
--- a/WindowMaker/Defaults/Makefile.am
+++ b/WindowMaker/Defaults/Makefile.am
@@ -10,20 +10,20 @@ EXTRA_DIST = WMGLOBAL WMWindowAttributes.in WindowMaker.in WMState.in
 CLEANFILES = WMWindowAttributes WindowMaker WMState
 
 WMWindowAttributes: $(srcdir)/WMWindowAttributes.in
-	-rm -f WMWindowAttributes
-	sed -e "s:#extension#:@ICONEXT@:" \
+	@-rm -f WMWindowAttributes
+	@sed -e "s:#extension#:@ICONEXT@:" \
 		$(srcdir)/WMWindowAttributes.in > WMWindowAttributes
 	chmod 644 WMWindowAttributes
 
 WindowMaker: $(srcdir)/WindowMaker.in
-	-rm -f WindowMaker
-	sed -e "s:#pkgdatadir#:$(pkgdatadir):" $(srcdir)/WindowMaker.in \
+	@-rm -f WindowMaker
+	@sed -e "s:#pkgdatadir#:$(pkgdatadir):" $(srcdir)/WindowMaker.in \
 		> WindowMaker
 	chmod 644 WindowMaker
 
 WMState: $(srcdir)/WMState.in
-	-rm -f WMState
-	sed -e "s:#wprefs#:$(wpexecbindir)/WPrefs:" $(srcdir)/WMState.in > WMState
+	@-rm -f WMState
+	@sed -e "s:#wprefs#:$(wpexecbindir)/WPrefs:" $(srcdir)/WMState.in > WMState
 	chmod 644 WMState
 
 WMRootMenu: $(srcdir)/../plmenu
diff --git a/WindowMaker/IconSets/Makefile.am b/WindowMaker/IconSets/Makefile.am
index ec5ca124..b3d838ce 100644
--- a/WindowMaker/IconSets/Makefile.am
+++ b/WindowMaker/IconSets/Makefile.am
@@ -8,10 +8,10 @@ EXTRA_DIST =
 CLEANFILES = Default.iconset
 
 Default.iconset: $(top_builddir)/WindowMaker/Defaults/WMWindowAttributes
-	-rm -f Default.iconset
-	echo '{' > Default.iconset
-	grep Icon $(top_builddir)/WindowMaker/Defaults/WMWindowAttributes >> Default.iconset
-	echo '}' >> Default.iconset
+	@-rm -f Default.iconset
+	@echo '{' > Default.iconset
+	@grep Icon $(top_builddir)/WindowMaker/Defaults/WMWindowAttributes >> Default.iconset
+	@echo '}' >> Default.iconset
 	chmod 644 Default.iconset
 
 
diff --git a/WindowMaker/Makefile.am b/WindowMaker/Makefile.am
index a7d24f5c..3ecf663e 100644
--- a/WindowMaker/Makefile.am
+++ b/WindowMaker/Makefile.am
@@ -57,4 +57,11 @@ prefsdata_DATA =\
 
 EXTRA_DIST = $(prefsdata_DATA) mkMakefile
 
+.c.o:
+	$(QUIET)$(COMPILE) -c $<
 
+.c.obj:
+	$(QUIET)$(COMPILE) -c `$(CYGPATH_W) '$<'`
+
+.c.lo:
+	$(QUIET)$(LTCOMPILE) -c -o $@ $<
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 1915335e..4babb567 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -384,6 +384,21 @@ AC_ARG_ENABLE(lite,
   fi])
 
 
+dnl
+dnl Beautify compilation messages
+dnl ---------------------------------------------
+AC_ARG_ENABLE(verbose-compile, AS_HELP_STRING([--disable-verbose-compile],
+			       [Streamline compilation messages (default off)]),
+  [
+	QUIET='@echo CC $@;'
+	QUIET_AR='@echo AR $@;'
+	LIBTOOL_ARG="--silent"
+	AC_SUBST(QUIET)
+	AC_SUBST(QUIET_AR)
+	AC_SUBST(LIBTOOL_ARG)
+])
+
+
 
 dnl
 dnl Networking stuff
diff --git a/src/Makefile.am b/src/Makefile.am
index 2e720375..fe326c69 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Makefile.am
@@ -134,3 +134,13 @@ wmaker_LDADD = \
 #	@INTLIBS@ \
 #	@DLLIBS@
 
+LIBTOOL = $(QUIET) $(SHELL) $(top_srcdir)/libtool $(LIBTOOL_ARG)
+
+.c.o:
+	$(QUIET)$(COMPILE) -c $<
+
+.c.obj:
+	$(QUIET)$(COMPILE) -c `$(CYGPATH_W) '$<'`
+
+.c.lo:
+	$(QUIET)$(LTCOMPILE) -c -o $@ $<
diff --git a/test/Makefile.am b/test/Makefile.am
index f57584f4..a0db7bb1 100644
--- a/test/Makefile.am
+++ b/test/Makefile.am
@@ -13,3 +13,13 @@ wtest_LDADD = $(top_builddir)/wmlib/libWMaker.a @XLFLAGS@ @XLIBS@
 
 INCLUDES = -g -D_BSD_SOURCE @XCFLAGS@ -I$(top_srcdir)/wmlib 
 
+LIBTOOL = $(QUIET) $(SHELL) $(top_srcdir)/libtool $(LIBTOOL_ARG)
+
+.c.o:
+	$(QUIET)$(COMPILE) -c $<
+
+.c.obj:
+	$(QUIET)$(COMPILE) -c `$(CYGPATH_W) '$<'`
+
+.c.lo:
+	$(QUIET)$(LTCOMPILE) -c -o $@ $<
diff --git a/util/Makefile.am b/util/Makefile.am
index c32327dd..2a080e9b 100644
--- a/util/Makefile.am
+++ b/util/Makefile.am
@@ -60,8 +60,8 @@ wmsetbg_LDADD = \
 CLEANFILES = wmaker.inst
 
 wmaker.inst: $(srcdir)/wmaker.inst.in ./Makefile
-	-rm -f wmaker.inst
-	sed -e "s|#pkgdatadir#|$(pkgdatadir)|" \
+	@-rm -f wmaker.inst
+	@sed -e "s|#pkgdatadir#|$(pkgdatadir)|" \
 		-e "s|#sysconfdir#|$(sysconfdir)/WindowMaker|" \
 		-e "s|#version#|$(VERSION)|" \
 		-e "s|#bindir#|$(bindir)|" \
@@ -69,4 +69,14 @@ wmaker.inst: $(srcdir)/wmaker.inst.in ./Makefile
 			$(srcdir)/wmaker.inst.in >wmaker.inst
 
 	chmod 755 wmaker.inst
+	
+LIBTOOL = $(QUIET) $(SHELL) $(top_srcdir)/libtool $(LIBTOOL_ARG)
 
+.c.o:
+	$(QUIET)$(COMPILE) -c $<
+
+.c.obj:
+	$(QUIET)$(COMPILE) -c `$(CYGPATH_W) '$<'`
+
+.c.lo:
+	$(QUIET)$(LTCOMPILE) -c -o $@ $<
diff --git a/wmlib/Makefile.am b/wmlib/Makefile.am
index 34cc11e0..9ad216fd 100644
--- a/wmlib/Makefile.am
+++ b/wmlib/Makefile.am
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ include_HEADERS = WMaker.h
 
 INCLUDES = $(DFLAGS) @XCFLAGS@
 
+libWMaker_a_AR = $(QUIET_AR) $(AR) $(ARFLAGS)
+
 libWMaker_a_SOURCES = 	\
 	menu.c 		\
 	app.c 		\
@@ -19,10 +21,21 @@ DISTCLEANFILES = wmlib.pc
 
 install-exec-local:
 	@$(NORMAL_INSTALL)
-	$(mkinstalldirs) $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/pkgconfig
+	@$(mkinstalldirs) $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/pkgconfig
 	@list='wmlib.pc'; for p in $$list; do \
 	  if test -f $$p; then \
-	    echo "$(INSTALL_DATA) $$p $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/pkgconfig/"; \
-	    $(INSTALL_DATA) $$p $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/pkgconfig/; \
+	    @echo "$(INSTALL_DATA) $$p $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/pkgconfig/"; \
+	    @$(INSTALL_DATA) $$p $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/pkgconfig/; \
 	  else :; fi; \
 	done
+
+LIBTOOL = $(QUIET) $(SHELL) $(top_srcdir)/libtool $(LIBTOOL_ARG)
+
+.c.o:
+	$(QUIET)$(COMPILE) -c $<
+
+.c.obj:
+	$(QUIET)$(COMPILE) -c `$(CYGPATH_W) '$<'`
+
+.c.lo:
+	$(QUIET)$(LTCOMPILE) -c -o $@ $<
diff --git a/wrlib/Makefile.am b/wrlib/Makefile.am
index f7a3428e..e644cedb 100644
--- a/wrlib/Makefile.am
+++ b/wrlib/Makefile.am
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ lib_LTLIBRARIES = libwraster.la
 
 libwraster_la_LDFLAGS = -version-info 4:0:1
 
+LIBTOOL = $(QUIET) $(SHELL) $(top_srcdir)/libtool $(LIBTOOL_ARG)
+
 bin_SCRIPTS = get-wraster-flags
 
 include_HEADERS = wraster.h
@@ -43,15 +45,26 @@ libwraster_la_SOURCES = 	\
 	gif.c
 
 
-LTCOMPILE2=`echo $(LTCOMPILE) | sed -e s/-fomit-frame-pointer//`
+.c:
+	$(QUIET)$(COMPILE) -c $<
+
+.c.obj:
+	$(QUIET)$(COMPILE) -c `$(CYGPATH_W) '$<'`
+
+# This is the same as LTCOMPILE but without LIBTOOL
+LTCOMPILE1= --tag=CC $(AM_LIBTOOLFLAGS) $(LIBTOOLFLAGS) \
+	--mode=compile $(CC) $(DEFS) $(DEFAULT_INCLUDES) $(INCLUDES) \
+	$(AM_CPPFLAGS) $(CPPFLAGS) $(AM_CFLAGS) $(CFLAGS)
+
+LTCOMPILE2=`echo $(LTCOMPILE1) | sed -e s/-fomit-frame-pointer//`
 COMPILE2=`echo $(COMPILE) | sed -e s/-fomit-frame-pointer//`
 
 # cant compile asm stuff with optimizations
 x86_specific.lo: x86_specific.c
-	$(LTCOMPILE2) -O0 -c $<
+	$(LIBTOOL) $(LTCOMPILE2) -O0 -c $<
 
 x86_specific.o: x86_specific.c
-	$(COMPILE2) -O0 -c $<
+	$(QUIET)$(COMPILE2) -O0 -c $<
 
 
 INCLUDES = $(DFLAGS) @HEADER_SEARCH_PATH@
@@ -69,3 +82,5 @@ install-exec-local:
 	    $(INSTALL_DATA) $$p $(DESTDIR)$(libdir)/pkgconfig/; \
 	  else :; fi; \
 	done
+
+
diff --git a/wrlib/tests/Makefile.am b/wrlib/tests/Makefile.am
index 0ed8e8ac..07b6a697 100644
--- a/wrlib/tests/Makefile.am
+++ b/wrlib/tests/Makefile.am
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ INCLUDES = -I$(srcdir)/.. $(DFLAGS) @HEADER_SEARCH_PATH@
 
 LIBLIST = $(top_builddir)/wrlib/libwraster.la
 
+LIBTOOL = $(QUIET)$(top_srcdir)/libtool --silent
+
 testdraw_SOURCES = testdraw.c
 testdraw_LDADD = $(LIBLIST)
 
@@ -22,3 +24,11 @@ testrot_LDADD = $(LIBLIST)
 view_SOURCES= view.c
 view_LDADD = $(LIBLIST)
 
+.c.o:
+	$(QUIET)$(COMPILE) -c $<
+
+.c.obj:
+	$(QUIET)$(COMPILE) -c `$(CYGPATH_W) '$<'`
+
+.c.lo:
+	$(QUIET)$(LTCOMPILE) -c -o $@ $<