diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index a1d2c892..45c939ef 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -50,6 +50,11 @@ VERSION=${LIBXML_VERSION}
 
 AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE(libxml2, $VERSION)
 
+# Support silent build rules, requires at least automake-1.11. Disable
+# by either passing --disable-silent-rules to configure or passing V=1
+# to make
+m4_ifdef([AM_SILENT_RULES], [AM_SILENT_RULES([yes])])
+
 dnl Checks for programs.
 AC_PROG_CC
 AC_PROG_INSTALL