diff --git a/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/internal/core/GeneratedMakefileBuilder.java b/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/internal/core/GeneratedMakefileBuilder.java
index 36594b3ea74..ec850616f3d 100644
--- a/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/internal/core/GeneratedMakefileBuilder.java
+++ b/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/internal/core/GeneratedMakefileBuilder.java
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ public class GeneratedMakefileBuilder extends ACBuilder {
 	private static final String BUILD_ERROR = MESSAGE + ".error";	//$NON-NLS-1$
 	private static final String REFRESH_ERROR = BUILD_ERROR + ".refresh";	//$NON-NLS-1$
 	private static final String BUILD_FINISHED = MESSAGE + ".finished";	//$NON-NLS-1$
+	private static final String NOTHING_BUILT = MESSAGE + ".no.build";	//$NON-NLS-1$
 	private static final String MAKE = MESSAGE + ".make";	//$NON-NLS-1$
 	private static final String REFRESH = MESSAGE + ".updating";	//$NON-NLS-1$
 	private static final String MARKERS = MESSAGE + ".creating.markers";	//$NON-NLS-1$
@@ -204,7 +205,7 @@ public class GeneratedMakefileBuilder extends ACBuilder {
 		if (topBuildDir != null) {
 			invokeMake(true, topBuildDir, info, monitor);
 		} else {
-			statusMsg = ManagedMakeMessages.getFormattedString(BUILD_FINISHED, getProject().getName());	//$NON-NLS-1$
+			statusMsg = ManagedMakeMessages.getFormattedString(NOTHING_BUILT, getProject().getName());	//$NON-NLS-1$
 			monitor.subTask(statusMsg);
 			return;
 		}
@@ -354,7 +355,8 @@ public class GeneratedMakefileBuilder extends ACBuilder {
 		if (buildDir != null) {
 			invokeMake(false, buildDir, info, monitor);
 		} else {
-			monitor.done();
+			statusMsg = ManagedMakeMessages.getFormattedString(NOTHING_BUILT, getProject().getName());	//$NON-NLS-1$
+			monitor.subTask(statusMsg);
 			return;
 		}
 		monitor.worked(1);
diff --git a/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/internal/core/PluginResources.properties b/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/internal/core/PluginResources.properties
index 9ddf58d4908..376545aa42c 100644
--- a/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/internal/core/PluginResources.properties
+++ b/build/org.eclipse.cdt.managedbuilder.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/managedbuilder/internal/core/PluginResources.properties
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ ManagedMakeBuilder.message.regen.deps = Regenerating dependency files for {0}
 ManagedMakeBuilder.message.updating.deps = Updating dependency files for {0}
 ManagedMakeBuilder.message.creating.markers = Generating markers...
 ManagedMakeBuilder.message.console.header = **** {0} of configuration {1} for project {2} ****
+ManagedMakeBuilder.message.no.build = Nothing to build for {0}
 ManagedMakeBuilder.message.error = Build error
 ManagedMakeBuilder.message.error.refresh = Error refreshing project 
 ManagedMakeBuilder.message.finished = Build complete for project {0}