diff --git a/src/igc.c b/src/igc.c
index 53b7318cb82..35c31f3266a 100644
--- a/src/igc.c
+++ b/src/igc.c
@@ -2482,8 +2482,12 @@ process_messages (struct igc *gc)
 	}
       else if (type == mps_message_type_gc_start ())
 	{
-	  const char *why = mps_message_gc_start_why (gc->arena, msg);
-	  fprintf (stderr, "*** MPS GC start: %s\n", why);
+	  if (garbage_collection_messages)
+	    {
+	      message1_nolog ("Garbage collecting...");
+	      const char *why = mps_message_gc_start_why (gc->arena, msg);
+	      message1_nolog (why);
+	    }
 	}
 
       mps_message_discard (gc->arena, msg);