diff --git a/configure.in.in b/configure.in.in
index c3c449031bfaef3cd4ace49644e31978de995030..c086539d7d55d43a9a61b6b3893259f9fe228976 100644
--- a/configure.in.in
+++ b/configure.in.in
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ dnl init autoconf
 AC_INIT([xfce4-dict], [dict_version], [http://bugzilla.xfce.org/])
 AC_PREREQ([2.50])
 
+m4_ifdef([AM_SILENT_RULES], [AM_SILENT_RULES([yes])])
+
 dnl init automake
 DICT_VERSION=dict_version
 AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([xfce4-dict], [$DICT_VERSION])