diff --git a/make/include/contrib.defs b/make/include/contrib.defs
index f249f48f8851..ce86143a310d 100644
--- a/make/include/contrib.defs
+++ b/make/include/contrib.defs
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ define import.CONTRIB.defs
 
     $(1).CONFIGURE.target = $$($(1).build/).stamp.$$($(1).name).configure
     define $(1).CONFIGURE
-        $$(call fn.ARGS,$(1).CONFIGURE,$$($(1).CONFIGURE.args))
+        $$(call fn.ARGS,$(1).CONFIGURE,$$($(1).CONFIGURE.args)) || (cat ./ffbuild/config.log; exit 1)
         $$(TOUCH.exe) $$@
     endef