diff --git a/common/configure_fresh_system b/common/configure_fresh_system
index 18dc8e4e..2173da42 100755
--- a/common/configure_fresh_system
+++ b/common/configure_fresh_system
@@ -2,9 +2,11 @@
 
 SUDO=""
 if [[ -z $NOSUDO ]]; then
-    SUDO=sudo
+    SUDO="sudo"
 fi
 
+echo "using '$SUDO' as sudo"
+
 set -e
 echo
 echo "configuring settings common among OSes"