diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 204a5e8d44abcf30ed0b238c46e1de84327f2fef..ea83d4758270874637a055b9c36ba693ed48fab9 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@ AC_INIT(pidgin-otr, 4.0.1)
 
 AM_CONFIG_HEADER(config.h)
 
+# Silent compilation so warnings can be spotted.
+m4_ifdef([AM_SILENT_RULES], [AM_SILENT_RULES([yes])])
+
 AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([-Wall -Werror])
 
 m4_ifdef([AM_PROG_AR], [AM_PROG_AR])