diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index f6b824faaa..66be768277 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 # Pattern rule to print variables, e.g. make print-top_srcdir
 print-%:
-	@echo $* = $($*)
+	@echo '$*' = '$($*)'
 
 ACLOCAL_AMFLAGS = -I build-aux/m4
 SUBDIRS = src
diff --git a/depends/Makefile b/depends/Makefile
index 596a46d4a2..aa90ea81d9 100644
--- a/depends/Makefile
+++ b/depends/Makefile
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 # Pattern rule to print variables, e.g. make print-top_srcdir
 print-%:
-	@echo $* = $($*)
+	@echo '$*' = '$($*)'
 
 # When invoking a sub-make, keep only the command line variable definitions
 # matching the pattern in the filter function.
diff --git a/src/Makefile.am b/src/Makefile.am
index 2616eb8638..3d267fe856 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Makefile.am
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 # Pattern rule to print variables, e.g. make print-top_srcdir
 print-%:
-	@echo $* = $($*)
+	@echo '$*' = '$($*)'
 
 DIST_SUBDIRS = secp256k1 univalue