diff --git a/make-dist b/make-dist
index 033bedebd87..64ceef20d5e 100755
--- a/make-dist
+++ b/make-dist
@@ -35,7 +35,8 @@ echo "version $version"
 # update submodules
 echo "updating submodules..."
 force=$(if git submodule usage 2>&1 | grep --quiet 'update.*--force'; then echo --force ; fi)
-if ! git submodule sync || ! git submodule update $force --init --recursive --progress; then
+quiet_or_progress=$(if test -n "$JENKINS_URL"; then echo --quiet; else echo --progress; fi)
+if ! git submodule sync || ! git submodule update $force --init --recursive $quiet_or_progress; then
     echo "Error: could not initialize submodule projects"
     echo "  Network connectivity might be required."
     exit 1