diff --git a/firmware/decompressor/Makefile b/firmware/decompressor/Makefile
index 17ccf6da77..46d7afe1b0 100644
--- a/firmware/decompressor/Makefile
+++ b/firmware/decompressor/Makefile
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 ifndef V
 SILENT=@
 endif
-PRINTS=$(info $(1))$(SILENT)
+PRINTS=$(SILENT)$(call info,$(1))
 
 LDS := link.lds
 LINKFILE = $(OBJDIR)/linkage.lds
diff --git a/tools/configure b/tools/configure
index 66636b55b4..d773c5aaf6 100755
--- a/tools/configure
+++ b/tools/configure
@@ -1421,6 +1421,12 @@ else
 VERBOSEOPT=-v
 endif
 
+# old 'make' versions don't have the built-in 'info' function
+info=old\$(warning Consider upgrading to GNU make 3.81+ for optimum build performance.)
+ifeq (\$(call info),old)
+export info=echo "\$\$(1)";
+endif
+
 export ROOTDIR=@ROOTDIR@
 export FIRMDIR=@FIRMDIR@
 export APPSDIR=@APPSDIR@
diff --git a/tools/make.inc b/tools/make.inc
index 8d75326bf0..8e125c834e 100644
--- a/tools/make.inc
+++ b/tools/make.inc
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 ifndef V
 SILENT=@
 endif
-PRINTS=$(info $(1))$(SILENT)
+PRINTS=$(SILENT)$(call info,$(1))
 
 $(OBJDIR)/%.o: %.c
 	$(SILENT)mkdir -p $(dir $@)
diff --git a/tools/makebmp.inc b/tools/makebmp.inc
index 9c8c640203..987a21457f 100644
--- a/tools/makebmp.inc
+++ b/tools/makebmp.inc
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ dep: $(DEPFILE)
 ifndef V
 SILENT=@
 endif
-PRINTS=$(info $(1))$(SILENT)
+PRINTS=$(SILENT)$(call info,$(1))
 
 $(OBJDIR)/%.c: %.bmp
 	$(SILENT)mkdir -p $(dir $@)