diff --git a/git_superproject.py b/git_superproject.py
index a09edc1..651da48 100644
--- a/git_superproject.py
+++ b/git_superproject.py
@@ -41,7 +41,8 @@
   lookup of commit ids for all projects. It contains _project_commit_ids which
   is a dictionary with project/commit id entries.
   """
-  def __init__(self, manifest, repodir, superproject_dir='exp-superproject'):
+  def __init__(self, manifest, repodir, superproject_dir='exp-superproject',
+               quiet=False):
     """Initializes superproject.
 
     Args:
@@ -49,9 +50,11 @@
       repodir: Path to the .repo/ dir for holding all internal checkout state.
           It must be in the top directory of the repo client checkout.
       superproject_dir: Relative path under |repodir| to checkout superproject.
+      quiet:  If True then only print the progress messages.
     """
     self._project_commit_ids = None
     self._manifest = manifest
+    self._quiet = quiet
     self._branch = self._GetBranch()
     self._repodir = os.path.abspath(repodir)
     self._superproject_dir = superproject_dir
@@ -89,6 +92,9 @@
     """
     if not os.path.exists(self._superproject_path):
       os.mkdir(self._superproject_path)
+    if not self._quiet and not os.path.exists(self._work_git):
+      print('%s: Performing initial setup for superproject; this might take '
+            'several minutes.' % self._work_git)
     cmd = ['init', '--bare', self._work_git_name]
     p = GitCommand(None,
                    cmd,
@@ -183,6 +189,8 @@
       return False
     if not self._Fetch(url):
       return False
+    if not self._quiet:
+      print('%s: Initial setup for superproject completed.' % self._work_git)
     return True
 
   def _GetAllProjectsCommitIds(self):
diff --git a/subcmds/init.py b/subcmds/init.py
index fc44604..c2376b6 100644
--- a/subcmds/init.py
+++ b/subcmds/init.py
@@ -185,10 +185,15 @@
     return {'REPO_MANIFEST_URL': 'manifest_url',
             'REPO_MIRROR_LOCATION': 'reference'}
 
-  def _CloneSuperproject(self):
-    """Clone the superproject based on the superproject's url and branch."""
+  def _CloneSuperproject(self, opt):
+    """Clone the superproject based on the superproject's url and branch.
+
+    Args:
+      opt: Program options returned from optparse.  See _Options().
+    """
     superproject = git_superproject.Superproject(self.manifest,
-                                                 self.repodir)
+                                                 self.repodir,
+                                                 quiet=opt.quiet)
     if not superproject.Sync():
       print('error: git update of superproject failed', file=sys.stderr)
       sys.exit(1)
@@ -553,7 +558,7 @@
     self._LinkManifest(opt.manifest_name)
 
     if self.manifest.manifestProject.config.GetBoolean('repo.superproject'):
-      self._CloneSuperproject()
+      self._CloneSuperproject(opt)
 
     if os.isatty(0) and os.isatty(1) and not self.manifest.IsMirror:
       if opt.config_name or self._ShouldConfigureUser(opt):
diff --git a/subcmds/sync.py b/subcmds/sync.py
index 0db96b5..3ad0627 100644
--- a/subcmds/sync.py
+++ b/subcmds/sync.py
@@ -292,7 +292,8 @@
       Returns path to the overriding manifest file.
     """
     superproject = git_superproject.Superproject(self.manifest,
-                                                 self.repodir)
+                                                 self.repodir,
+                                                 quiet=opt.quiet)
     all_projects = self.GetProjects(args,
                                     missing_ok=True,
                                     submodules_ok=opt.fetch_submodules)