diff --git a/dotfiles.mk b/dotfiles.mk
index 6018dd2..aaabad3 100644
--- a/dotfiles.mk
+++ b/dotfiles.mk
@@ -35,11 +35,11 @@ install: $(install-modules) $(install-objects)
 uninstall: $(uninstall-modules) $(uninstall-objects)
 else
 check:
-	$(MAKE) -s -C ../ check
+	@$(MAKE) -s -C ../ check
 install:
-	$(MAKE) -C ../ install
+	@$(MAKE) -s -C ../ install
 uninstall:
-	$(MAKE) -C ../ uninstall
+	@$(MAKE) -C ../ uninstall
 endif
 
 $(modules): %:
@@ -47,23 +47,29 @@ $(modules): %:
 	@$(MAKE) -C $*
 
 $(install-objects): install-%: %
-	$(if $(call newer,$*), \
-		install -pDm $(MODE) "$*" "$(DESTDIR)/$*")
+	@$(if $(call newer,$*), \
+		echo -e "$(FG_GRE)installing $(FG_YEL)$* $(CLR_RE)to $(DESTDIR) as $(MODE)"; \
+		install -pDm $(MODE) "$*" "$(DESTDIR)/$*", \
+		echo -e "$(FG_RED)not installing $(FG_YEL)$*$(CLR_RE)")
 
 $(install-modules): install-%:
-	@$(MAKE) -C $* install
+	@$(MAKE) -s -C $* install
 
 $(uninstall-objects): uninstall-%:
-	$(if $(call newer,$*),rm -f "$(DESTDIR)/$*")
+	@$(if $(call older,$*), \
+		echo -e "$(FG_RED)not uninstalling $(FG_YEL)$*$(CLR_RE)", \
+		echo -e "$(FG_GRE)uninstalling $(FG_YEL)$*$(CLR_RE)"; \
+		rm -f "$(DESTDIR)/$*")
 
 $(uninstall-modules): uninstall-%:
 	@$(MAKE) -C $* uninstall
 
 $(check-objects): check-%:
 	@$(if $(call newer,$*), \
-		echo -e "$(FG_YEL)$* $(FG_GRE)newer$(CLR_RE)!", \
+		echo -e "$(FG_YEL)$* $(FG_GRE)newer$(CLR_RE) than $(DESTDIR)$*!", \
 		$(if $(call older,$*), \
-			echo -e "$(FG_YEL)$* $(FG_RED)older$(CLR_RE)."))
+			echo -e "$(FG_YEL)$* $(FG_RED)older$(CLR_RE) than $(DESTDIR)$*.", \
+			echo -e "$(FG_YEL)$* $(FG_BLU)up to date$(CLR_RE) with $(DESTDIR)$*."))
 
 $(check-modules): check-%:
 	@$(MAKE) -s -C $* check