diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 3106bc6554..09b32ffd8c 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -55,6 +55,9 @@ AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([foreign dist-bzip2 subdir-objects no-define 1.10 tar-ustar])
 
 m4_pattern_allow([m4_ifval])
 
+# If Automake supports silent rules, enable them.
+m4_ifdef([AM_SILENT_RULES], [AM_SILENT_RULES([yes])])
+
 # Make configure depend on the VERSION file, since it's used in AC_INIT
 AC_SUBST([CONFIGURE_DEPENDENCIES], ['$(top_srcdir)/VERSION'])
 
diff --git a/ompi/contrib/vt/vt/configure.in b/ompi/contrib/vt/vt/configure.in
index 2e7d96512b..bc20a27d37 100644
--- a/ompi/contrib/vt/vt/configure.in
+++ b/ompi/contrib/vt/vt/configure.in
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@ AC_INIT(VampirTrace, 5.4.10, vampirsupport@zih.tu-dresden.de)
 AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE(VampirTrace, 5.4.10)
 AM_CONFIG_HEADER(config.h)
 
+# Open MPI: If Automake supports silent rules, enable them.
+m4_ifdef([AM_SILENT_RULES], [AM_SILENT_RULES([yes])])
+
 ACVT_CONF_INIT
 
 ACVT_CONF_TITLE([Initialization])
diff --git a/ompi/contrib/vt/vt/extlib/otf/configure.in b/ompi/contrib/vt/vt/extlib/otf/configure.in
index c56b51863b..75e8a31a57 100644
--- a/ompi/contrib/vt/vt/extlib/otf/configure.in
+++ b/ompi/contrib/vt/vt/extlib/otf/configure.in
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@ AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE(OTF, 1.3.12)
 AC_CONFIG_SRCDIR([config.h.in])
 AM_CONFIG_HEADER(config.h)
 
+# Open MPI: If Automake supports silent rules, enable them.
+m4_ifdef([AM_SILENT_RULES], [AM_SILENT_RULES([yes])])
+
 # Checks for programs.
 AC_PROG_CXX
 AC_PROG_CC
diff --git a/ompi/mca/io/romio/romio/configure.in b/ompi/mca/io/romio/romio/configure.in
index cade4bb5e1..95ec3ac7e2 100644
--- a/ompi/mca/io/romio/romio/configure.in
+++ b/ompi/mca/io/romio/romio/configure.in
@@ -205,6 +205,9 @@ AC_CONFIG_AUX_DIR(confdb)
 # Open MPI: Init automake
 AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE(io-romio, 1.0.0, 'no')
 
+# Open MPI: If Automake supports silent rules, enable them.
+m4_ifdef([AM_SILENT_RULES], [AM_SILENT_RULES([yes])])
+
 #
 # Check that an arch was set
 # If it wasn't set, try to guess using "util/tarch"