diff --git a/m4/sage_spkg_collect.m4 b/m4/sage_spkg_collect.m4
index 705b5c86f12..94893f06f67 100644
--- a/m4/sage_spkg_collect.m4
+++ b/m4/sage_spkg_collect.m4
@@ -262,7 +262,9 @@ AC_DEFUN([SAGE_SPKG_FINALIZE], [dnl
             message="SPKG_TYPE"
             m4_case(SPKG_SOURCE, [none], [], [dnl
                 dnl Non-dummy optional/experimental package, advertise how to install
-                message="$message, use \"$srcdir/configure --enable-SPKG_NAME\" to install SPKG version $SPKG_VERSION"
+                AS_CASE(["$SPKG_VERSION"],
+                    [none], [message="$message, use \"$srcdir/configure --enable-SPKG_NAME\" to install SPKG"],
+                            [message="$message, use \"$srcdir/configure --enable-SPKG_NAME\" to install SPKG version $SPKG_VERSION"])
             ])
         ])
     ])