diff --git a/Makefile.in b/Makefile.in
index 29fbdcdfa..a2e93e845 100644
--- a/Makefile.in
+++ b/Makefile.in
@@ -2,11 +2,13 @@
 # See the file LICENSE for the license
 
 debug_enabled=@debug_enabled@
+ifeq "$(QUIET)" ""
 ifeq ($(debug_enabled),yes)
   QUIET=yes
 else
   QUIET=no
 endif
+endif
 
 ifeq "$(QUIET)" "yes"
   Q=@
diff --git a/doc/Changelog b/doc/Changelog
index 14f502963..3d744bc96 100644
--- a/doc/Changelog
+++ b/doc/Changelog
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 	- retry from 4 to 5 so that EDNS drop retry is part of the first
 	  query resolve attempt, and cached error does not stop EDNS fallback.
 	- remove debug prints that protect against bad referrals.
+	- honor QUIET=no on make commandline (or QUIET=yes ).
 
 13 January 2009: Wouter
 	- fixed bug in lameness marking, removed printouts.