diff --git a/src/build/targets.jam b/src/build/targets.jam
index ba575235a..dfbd7a1d4 100644
--- a/src/build/targets.jam
+++ b/src/build/targets.jam
@@ -600,13 +600,21 @@ local rule start-building ( main-target-instance )
         local names ;
         for local t in $(.targets-being-built) $(main-target-instance)
         {
-            names += [ $(t).full-name ] ;
+            local name = [ $(t).full-name ] ;
+            if $(t) = $(main-target-instance)
+            {
+                names += ***$(name)*** ;
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                names += $(name) ;
+            }
         }
 
         import errors ;
         errors.error "Recursion in main target references"
           : "the following target are being built currently:"
-          : $(names) ;
+          : $(names:J=" -> ") ;
     }
     .targets-being-built += $(main-target-instance) ;
 }