diff --git a/Makefile.pre.in b/Makefile.pre.in
index 484ae014168..d4b0e1c4dde 100644
--- a/Makefile.pre.in
+++ b/Makefile.pre.in
@@ -407,10 +407,14 @@ platform: $(BUILDPYTHON)
 
 # Build the shared modules
 sharedmods: $(BUILDPYTHON)
-	@case $$MAKEFLAGS in \
-	*s*) $(RUNSHARED) CC='$(CC)' LDSHARED='$(BLDSHARED)' OPT='$(OPT)' ./$(BUILDPYTHON) -E $(srcdir)/setup.py -q build;; \
-	*) $(RUNSHARED) CC='$(CC)' LDSHARED='$(BLDSHARED)' OPT='$(OPT)' ./$(BUILDPYTHON) -E $(srcdir)/setup.py build;; \
-	esac
+        if which getopt >/dev/null 2>&1; then \
+	  mflags=`getopt s $$MAKEFLAGS 2>/dev/null | sed 's/ --.*/ /'`; \
+	else \
+	  mflags=" $$MAKEFLAGS "; \
+	fi; \
+	case $$mflags in "* -s *") quiet=-q; esac; \
+	$(RUNSHARED) CC='$(CC)' LDSHARED='$(BLDSHARED)' OPT='$(OPT)' \
+		./$(BUILDPYTHON) -E $(srcdir)/setup.py $$quiet build
 
 # Build static library
 # avoid long command lines, same as LIBRARY_OBJS