diff --git a/Makefile.in b/Makefile.in
index 73f6da524f..54f4a80b7a 100644
--- a/Makefile.in
+++ b/Makefile.in
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ uncommon.mk: $(srcdir)/common.mk
 .PHONY: reconfig
 reconfig-args = $(srcdir)/$(CONFIGURE) $(configure_args)
 config.status-args = ./config.status --recheck
-reconfig-exec-0 = exec 3>&1; exit `exec 4>&1; { "$$@" 3>&- 4>&-; echo $$? 1>&4; } | fgrep -v '(cached)' 1>&3 3>&- 4>&-`
+reconfig-exec-0 = test -t 1 && tty=yes; exec 3>&1; exit `exec 4>&1; { CONFIGURE_TTY=$$tty "$$@" 3>&- 4>&-; echo $$? 1>&4; } | fgrep -v '(cached)' 1>&3 3>&- 4>&-`
 reconfig-exec-1 = set -x; "$$@"
 
 reconfig config.status:	$(srcdir)/$(CONFIGURE) $(srcdir)/enc/Makefile.in \
diff --git a/aclocal.m4 b/aclocal.m4
index faf6beb7d4..30fccd52fe 100644
--- a/aclocal.m4
+++ b/aclocal.m4
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 AC_DEFUN([_COLORIZE_RESULT_PREPARE], [
     msg_checking= msg_result_yes= msg_result_no= msg_result_other= msg_reset=
-    AS_IF([test -t 1], [
+    AS_IF([test "x${CONFIGURE_TTY}" = xyes -o -t 1], [
 	msg_begin="`tput smso 2>/dev/null`"
     	AS_CASE(["$msg_begin"], ['@<:@'*m],
 	    [msg_begin="`echo "$msg_begin" | sed ['s/[0-9]*m$//']`"