diff --git a/autogen.sh b/autogen.sh
index b2667822..21f0d1a4 100755
--- a/autogen.sh
+++ b/autogen.sh
@@ -20,16 +20,20 @@ echo "#define IRSSI_VERSION \"@VERSION@\"" >> irssi-version.h.in
 echo "#define IRSSI_VERSION_DATE \"$version_date\"" >> irssi-version.h.in
 
 # create POTFILES.in
+echo "Updating POTFILES.in..."
 find src -name '*.c'|grep -v 'src/perl/.*/' > po/POTFILES.in
 
 # create help files
+echo "Creating help files..."
 perl syntax.pl
+
 files=`echo docs/help/in/*.in|sed -e 's,docs/help/in/Makefile.in ,,' -e 's,docs/help/in/,!,g' -e 's/\.in /.in ?/g'`
 cat docs/help/in/Makefile.am.gen|sed "s/@HELPFILES@/$files/g"|sed 's/?/\\?/g'|tr '\!?' '\t\n' > docs/help/in/Makefile.am
 
 files=`echo $files|sed 's/\.in//g'`
 cat docs/help/Makefile.am.gen|sed "s/@HELPFILES@/$files/g"|sed 's/?/\\?/g'|tr '\!?' '\t\n' > docs/help/Makefile.am
 
+echo "Checking auto* tools..."
 
 # *********** a bit modified GNOME's macros/autogen.sh **********
 DIE=0