diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 4babb567..1783a72e 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -390,8 +390,8 @@ dnl ---------------------------------------------
 AC_ARG_ENABLE(verbose-compile, AS_HELP_STRING([--disable-verbose-compile],
 			       [Streamline compilation messages (default off)]),
   [
-	QUIET='@echo CC $@;'
-	QUIET_AR='@echo AR $@;'
+	QUIET='@echo "     CC" $@;'
+	QUIET_AR='@echo "     AR" $@;'
 	LIBTOOL_ARG="--silent"
 	AC_SUBST(QUIET)
 	AC_SUBST(QUIET_AR)