diff --git a/arch/sim/src/Makefile b/arch/sim/src/Makefile
index 63cb1e0af34..b5c2da974d8 100644
--- a/arch/sim/src/Makefile
+++ b/arch/sim/src/Makefile
@@ -285,8 +285,9 @@ $(COBJS) $(LINKOBJS): %$(OBJEXT): %.c
 	$(call COMPILE, $<, $@)
 
 $(HOSTOBJS) $(HEADOBJ): %$(OBJEXT): %.c
-	$(Q) echo "CC:  $<"
+	$(Q) $(ECHO_BEGIN)"CC:  $<"
 	$(Q) "$(CC)" -c $(HOSTCFLAGS) $< -o $@
+	$(Q) $(ECHO_END)
 
 # The architecture-specific library
 
diff --git a/tools/Config.mk b/tools/Config.mk
index 7096fa1b4de..8630026e71f 100644
--- a/tools/Config.mk
+++ b/tools/Config.mk
@@ -22,12 +22,9 @@
 
 .SUFFIXES:
 
-ifeq ($(CONFIG_WINDOWS_NATIVE),y)
-export SHELL=cmd
-endif
-
 # Control build verbosity
 #
+#  V=0:   Exit silent mode
 #  V=1,2: Enable echo of commands
 #  V=2:   Enable bug/verbose options in tools and scripts
 
@@ -39,6 +36,22 @@ else
 export Q := @
 endif
 
+ifeq ($(CONFIG_WINDOWS_NATIVE),y)
+  export SHELL=cmd
+else ifeq ($(V),)
+  BASHCMD := $(shell command -v bash 2> /dev/null)
+  ifneq ($(BASHCMD),)
+    export SHELL=$(BASHCMD)
+    export ECHO_BEGIN=@echo -ne "\033[1K\r"
+    export ECHO_END=$(ECHO_BEGIN)
+  endif
+endif
+
+ifeq ($(ECHO_BEGIN),)
+  export ECHO_BEGIN=@echo 
+  export ECHO_END=
+endif
+
 # These are configuration variables that are quoted by configuration tool
 # but which must be unquoted when used in the build system.
 
@@ -267,8 +280,9 @@ endif
 # <filename>.S)
 
 define PREPROCESS
-	@echo "CPP: $1->$2"
+	$(ECHO_BEGIN)"CPP: $1->$2 "
 	$(Q) $(CPP) $(CPPFLAGS) $($(strip $1)_CPPFLAGS) $(abspath $1) -o $(abspath $2)
+	$(ECHO_END)
 endef
 
 # COMPILE - Default macro to compile one C file
@@ -284,8 +298,9 @@ endef
 # change the options used with the single file <filename>.c
 
 define COMPILE
-	@echo "CC: $1"
+	$(ECHO_BEGIN)"CC: $1 "
 	$(Q) $(CCACHE) $(CC) -c $(CFLAGS) $3 $($(strip $1)_CFLAGS) $(abspath $1) -o $(abspath $2)
+	$(ECHO_END)
 endef
 
 # COMPILEXX - Default macro to compile one C++ file
@@ -302,8 +317,9 @@ endef
 # extension .cpp could also be used.  The same applies mutatis mutandis.
 
 define COMPILEXX
-	@echo "CXX: $1"
+	$(ECHO_BEGIN)"CXX: $1 "
 	$(Q) $(CCACHE) $(CXX) -c $(CXXFLAGS) $3 $($(strip $1)_CXXFLAGS) $(abspath $1) -o $(abspath $2)
+	$(ECHO_END)
 endef
 
 # COMPILERUST - Default macro to compile one Rust file
@@ -320,8 +336,9 @@ endef
 # applies mutatis mutandis.
 
 define COMPILERUST
-	@echo "RUSTC: $1"
+	$(ECHO_BEGIN)"RUSTC: $1 "
 	$(Q) $(RUSTC) --emit obj $(RUSTFLAGS) $($(strip $1)_RUSTFLAGS) $(abspath $1) -o $(abspath $2)
+	$(ECHO_END)
 endef
 
 # COMPILEZIG - Default macro to compile one Zig file
@@ -338,8 +355,9 @@ endef
 # applies mutatis mutandis.
 
 define COMPILEZIG
-	@echo "ZIG: $1"
+	$(ECHO_BEGIN)"ZIG: $1 "
 	$(Q) $(ZIG) build-obj $(ZIGFLAGS) $($(strip $1)_ZIGFLAGS) --name $(basename $2) $1
+	$(ECHO_END)
 endef
 
 # ASSEMBLE - Default macro to assemble one assembly language file
@@ -363,16 +381,18 @@ endef
 # is used by some toolchains.  The same applies mutatis mutandis.
 
 define ASSEMBLE
-	@echo "AS: $1"
+	$(ECHO_BEGIN)"AS: $1 "
 	$(Q) $(CCACHE) $(CC) -c $(AFLAGS) $(abspath $1) $($(strip $1)_AFLAGS) -o $(abspath $2)
+	$(ECHO_END)
 endef
 
 # INSTALL_LIB - Install a library $1 into target $2
 # Example: $(call INSTALL_LIB, libabc.a, $(TOPDIR)/staging/)
 
 define INSTALL_LIB
-	@echo "IN: $1 -> $2"
+	$(ECHO_BEGIN)"IN: $1 -> $2 "
 	$(Q) install -m 0644 $(abspath $1) $(abspath $2)
+	$(ECHO_END)
 endef
 
 # ARCHIVE_ADD - Add a list of files to an archive
@@ -392,8 +412,9 @@ endef
 #   CONFIG_WINDOWS_NATIVE - Defined for a Windows native build
 
 define ARCHIVE_ADD
-	@echo "AR (add): ${shell basename $(1)} $(2)"
+	$(ECHO_BEGIN)"AR (add): ${shell basename $(1)} $(2) "
 	$(Q) $(AR) $(abspath $1) $(abspath $2)
+	$(ECHO_END)
 endef
 
 # ARCHIVE - Same as above, but ensure the archive is
diff --git a/tools/Unix.mk b/tools/Unix.mk
index 6b199b25ab8..9b52454a7a3 100644
--- a/tools/Unix.mk
+++ b/tools/Unix.mk
@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@
 
 export TOPDIR := ${shell echo $(CURDIR) | sed -e 's/ /\\ /g'}
 
+ifeq ($(V),)
+  MAKE := $(MAKE) -s --no-print-directory
+endif
+
 # Build any necessary tools needed early in the build.
 # incdir - Is needed immediately by all Make.defs file.
 
@@ -664,7 +668,7 @@ savedefconfig: apps_preconfig
 # that the archiver is 'ar'
 
 export: $(NUTTXLIBS)
-	$(Q) MAKE=${MAKE} $(MKEXPORT) $(MKEXPORT_ARGS) -l "$(EXPORTLIBS)"
+	$(Q) MAKE="${MAKE}" $(MKEXPORT) $(MKEXPORT_ARGS) -l "$(EXPORTLIBS)"
 
 # General housekeeping targets:  dependencies, cleaning, etc.
 #
diff --git a/tools/mkexport.sh b/tools/mkexport.sh
index d13c604d89a..c32edf9e2ab 100755
--- a/tools/mkexport.sh
+++ b/tools/mkexport.sh
@@ -418,7 +418,7 @@ cd "${TOPDIR}" || \
   { echo "MK: 'cd ${TOPDIR}' failed"; exit 1; }
 
 if [ -e "${APPDIR}/Makefile" ]; then
-  "${MAKE}" -C "${APPDIR}" EXPORTDIR="$(cd "${EXPORTSUBDIR}" ; pwd )" TOPDIR="${TOPDIR}" export || \
+  ${MAKE} -C "${APPDIR}" EXPORTDIR="$(cd "${EXPORTSUBDIR}" ; pwd )" TOPDIR="${TOPDIR}" export || \
       { echo "MK: call make export for APPDIR not supported"; }
 fi