diff --git a/include/verbose.mk b/include/verbose.mk
index 4487a207e87775..3ecf842d11831c 100644
--- a/include/verbose.mk
+++ b/include/verbose.mk
@@ -29,15 +29,15 @@ ifeq ($(IS_TTY),1)
   endif
 endif
 
-define ERROR_MESSAGE
-  printf "$(_R)%s$(_N)\n" "$(1)" >&8
-endef
-
 ifeq ($(findstring s,$(OPENWRT_VERBOSE)),)
   define MESSAGE
 	printf "$(_Y)%s$(_N)\n" "$(1)" >&8
   endef
 
+  define ERROR_MESSAGE
+	printf "$(_R)%s$(_N)\n" "$(1)" >&8
+  endef
+
   ifeq ($(QUIET),1)
     ifneq ($(CURDIR),$(TOPDIR))
       _DIR:=$(patsubst $(TOPDIR)/%,%,${CURDIR})
@@ -60,4 +60,5 @@ else
   define MESSAGE
     printf "%s\n" "$(1)"
   endef
+  ERROR_MESSAGE=$(MESSAGE)
 endif