diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index f2f803a2cdbbbfb4adc99123a2743e26a410a480..6f261cdb630ef9d8d3a7a3a77eadeabec6a74a0e 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@ AC_CONFIG_AUX_DIR([build-aux])
 AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([1.12 gnu silent-rules subdir-objects \
  color-tests parallel-tests -Woverride])
 
+# Enable silent rules by default.
+AM_SILENT_RULES([yes])
+
 AC_CONFIG_SRCDIR([guix.scm])
 AC_CONFIG_MACRO_DIR([m4])