diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 2f7f6c96..fbcb8513 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -239,10 +239,12 @@ if test "$curl_cv_have_def___DECC" = "yes" ||
   AC_MSG_RESULT([yes])
   dnl Select strict ANSI C compiler mode
   CFLAGS="$CFLAGS -std1"
-  dnl Generate verbose messages for errors and warnings
-  CFLAGS="$CFLAGS -verbose"
   dnl Generate warnings for missing function prototypes
   CFLAGS="$CFLAGS -warnprotos"
+  dnl Select highest warning level
+  CFLAGS="$CFLAGS -msg_enable level6"
+  dnl Change some warnings into fatal errors
+  CFLAGS="$CFLAGS -msg_fatal toofewargs,toomanyargs"
 else
   AC_MSG_RESULT([no])
 fi