diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 47a0634..b7afd52 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@ AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([1.11 dist-bzip2 no-dist-gzip check-news])
 AC_CONFIG_SRCDIR([src/main.c])
 AC_CONFIG_HEADERS([config.h])
 
+# Enable silent build when available (Automake 1.11)
+m4_ifdef([AM_SILENT_RULES],[AM_SILENT_RULES([yes])])
+
 AC_PREREQ([2.50])
 AC_PROG_LIBTOOL
 AC_PROG_CC