diff --git a/emcmake.py b/emcmake.py
index ef8e6e25ac1ab..0eef0274d80f4 100755
--- a/emcmake.py
+++ b/emcmake.py
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ def has_substr(args, substr):
       print('emcmake: no compatible cmake generator found; Please install ninja or mingw32-make, or specify a generator explicitly using -G', file=sys.stderr)
       return 1
 
-  print(f'configure: {shlex.join(args)}', file=sys.stderr)
+  print(f'configure: {shlex.join(args)} in directory {os.getcwd()}', file=sys.stderr)
   try:
     shared.check_call(args)
     return 0
diff --git a/emconfigure.py b/emconfigure.py
index d3c707abd082a..20ac63c450913 100755
--- a/emconfigure.py
+++ b/emconfigure.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 tests will work properly.
 """
 
+import os
 import shlex
 import sys
 from tools import building
@@ -48,7 +49,7 @@ def run():
   # compilation with emcc, but instead do builds natively with Clang. This
   # is a heuristic emulation that may or may not work.
   env['EMMAKEN_JUST_CONFIGURE'] = '1'
-  print(f'configure: {shlex.join(args)}', file=sys.stderr)
+  print(f'configure: {shlex.join(args)} in directory {os.getcwd()}', file=sys.stderr)
   try:
     shared.check_call(args, env=env)
     return 0