diff --git a/configure b/configure
index c98aed1c6..452b8cf03 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -20,6 +20,11 @@ TMPE="${TMPDIR1}/qemu-conf-${RANDOM}-$$-${RANDOM}.exe"
 trap "rm -f $TMPC $TMPO $TMPE" EXIT INT QUIT TERM
 rm -f config.log
 
+# Print a helpful header at the top of config.log
+echo "# QEMU configure log $(date)" >> config.log
+echo "# produced by $0 $*" >> config.log
+echo "#" >> config.log
+
 compile_object() {
   echo $cc $QEMU_CFLAGS -c -o $TMPO $TMPC >> config.log
   $cc $QEMU_CFLAGS -c -o $TMPO $TMPC >> config.log 2>&1