diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index c747f280ca..faec8df827 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -65,6 +65,12 @@ AC_SUBST(GST_MAJORMINOR)
 AC_SUBST(GST_VERSION_REQUIRED)
 AC_SUBST(GST_PLUGINS_BASE_VERSION_REQUIRED)
 
+dnl Use pretty build output with automake >= 1.11
+m4_ifdef([AM_SILENT_RULES], [AM_SILENT_RULES([yes])], [
+  AM_DEFAULT_VERBOSITY=1
+  AC_SUBST(AM_DEFAULT_VERBOSITY)
+])
+
 dnl Check for tools
 AC_PROG_CC
 AM_PROG_CC_C_O