diff --git a/java/Makefile.am b/java/Makefile.am
index 8b6944db0..c7db29d60 100644
--- a/java/Makefile.am
+++ b/java/Makefile.am
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ $(libguestfs_jar_class_files): %.class: %.java
 	$(guestfs_am_v_javac)$(JAVAC) $(JAVAC_FLAGS) -d . -classpath $(srcdir):. $<
 
 libguestfs-${VERSION}.jar: $(libguestfs_jar_class_files)
-	$(JAR) cf $@ $^
+	$(guestfs_am_v_jar)$(JAR) cf $@ $^
 
 # JNI source.
 
diff --git a/subdir-rules.mk b/subdir-rules.mk
index 165b66c4f..6a4638872 100644
--- a/subdir-rules.mk
+++ b/subdir-rules.mk
@@ -72,6 +72,9 @@ guestfs_am_v_erlc_0 = @echo "  ERLC    " $@;
 guestfs_am_v_podwrapper = $(guestfs_am_v_podwrapper_@AM_V@)
 guestfs_am_v_podwrapper_ = $(guestfs_am_v_podwrapper_@AM_DEFAULT_V@)
 guestfs_am_v_podwrapper_0 = @echo "  POD     " $@;
+guestfs_am_v_jar = $(guestfs_am_v_jar_@AM_V@)
+guestfs_am_v_jar_ = $(guestfs_am_v_jar_@AM_DEFAULT_V@)
+guestfs_am_v_jar_0 = @echo "  JAR     " $@;
 
 .mli.cmi:
 	$(guestfs_am_v_ocamlc)$(OCAMLFIND) ocamlc $(OCAMLFLAGS) $(OCAMLPACKAGES) -c $< -o $@