diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 9b8207ee915..7850d7f03d8 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@ need_ok() {
 
 need_cmd() {
     if command -v $1 >/dev/null 2>&1
-    then msg "found program $1"
-    else err "need program $1"
+    then msg "found program '$1'"
+    else err "program '$1' is missing, please install it"
     fi
 }