diff --git a/py/makeversionhdr.py b/py/makeversionhdr.py
index 749160b4df..aedc292e4b 100644
--- a/py/makeversionhdr.py
+++ b/py/makeversionhdr.py
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ def make_version_header(filename):
 
     # Only write the file if we need to
     if write_file:
-        print("Generating %s" % filename)
+        print("GEN %s" % filename)
         with open(filename, 'w') as f:
             f.write(file_data)
 
diff --git a/py/mkrules.mk b/py/mkrules.mk
index 96f6e35a64..fa7138695d 100644
--- a/py/mkrules.mk
+++ b/py/mkrules.mk
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ $(HEADER_BUILD):
 
 ifneq ($(FROZEN_DIR),)
 $(BUILD)/frozen.c: $(wildcard $(FROZEN_DIR)/*) $(HEADER_BUILD) $(FROZEN_EXTRA_DEPS)
-	$(ECHO) "Generating $@"
+	$(ECHO) "GEN $@"
 	$(Q)$(MAKE_FROZEN) $(FROZEN_DIR) > $@
 endif
 
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ $(BUILD)/frozen_mpy/%.mpy: $(FROZEN_MPY_DIR)/%.py $(TOP)/mpy-cross/mpy-cross
 
 # to build frozen_mpy.c from all .mpy files
 $(BUILD)/frozen_mpy.c: $(FROZEN_MPY_MPY_FILES) $(BUILD)/genhdr/qstrdefs.generated.h
-	@$(ECHO) "Creating $@"
+	@$(ECHO) "GEN $@"
 	$(Q)$(MPY_TOOL) -f -q $(BUILD)/genhdr/qstrdefs.preprocessed.h $(FROZEN_MPY_MPY_FILES) > $@
 endif