diff --git a/make/Docs.gmk b/make/Docs.gmk
index 49c97946f75..0948f8ff76c 100644
--- a/make/Docs.gmk
+++ b/make/Docs.gmk
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ define create_overview_file
   $$($1_OVERVIEW): $$($1_OVERVIEW_VARDEPS_FILE)
 	$$(call LogInfo, Creating overview.html for $1)
 	$$(call MakeDir, $$(@D))
-	$$(PRINTF) > $$@ '$$($1_OVERVIEW_TEXT)'
+	$$(ECHO) -n '$$($1_OVERVIEW_TEXT)' > $$@
 endef
 
 ################################################################################
diff --git a/make/Init.gmk b/make/Init.gmk
index 2a8f6399a18..5dd1a71dd9a 100644
--- a/make/Init.gmk
+++ b/make/Init.gmk
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ main: MAKEOVERRIDES :=
 main: $(INIT_TARGETS)
         ifneq ($(SEQUENTIAL_TARGETS)$(PARALLEL_TARGETS), )
 	  $(call RotateLogFiles)
-	  $(PRINTF) "Building $(TARGET_DESCRIPTION)\n" $(BUILD_LOG_PIPE_SIMPLE)
+	  $(ECHO) "Building $(TARGET_DESCRIPTION)" $(BUILD_LOG_PIPE_SIMPLE)
           ifneq ($(SEQUENTIAL_TARGETS), )
             # Don't touch build output dir since we might be cleaning. That
             # means no log pipe.
@@ -158,7 +158,8 @@ main: $(INIT_TARGETS)
 	            -f make/Main.gmk $(USER_MAKE_VARS) \
 	            $(PARALLEL_TARGETS) $(COMPARE_BUILD_MAKE) $(BUILD_LOG_PIPE) || \
 	        ( exitcode=$$? && \
-	        $(PRINTF) "\nERROR: Build failed for $(TARGET_DESCRIPTION) (exit code $$exitcode) \n" \
+	        $(ECHO) "" $(BUILD_LOG_PIPE_SIMPLE) && \
+	        $(ECHO) "ERROR: Build failed for $(TARGET_DESCRIPTION) (exit code $$exitcode)" \
 	            $(BUILD_LOG_PIPE_SIMPLE) && \
 	        cd $(TOPDIR) && $(MAKE) $(MAKE_ARGS) -j 1 -f make/Init.gmk \
 	            on-failure ; \
@@ -170,7 +171,7 @@ main: $(INIT_TARGETS)
 	  if test -f $(MAKESUPPORT_OUTPUTDIR)/exit-with-error ; then \
 	    exit 1 ; \
 	  fi
-	  $(PRINTF) "Finished building $(TARGET_DESCRIPTION)\n" $(BUILD_LOG_PIPE_SIMPLE)
+	  $(ECHO) "Finished building $(TARGET_DESCRIPTION)" $(BUILD_LOG_PIPE_SIMPLE)
 	  $(call ReportProfileTimes)
         endif
 
@@ -181,7 +182,8 @@ on-failure:
 	$(call PrintFailureReports)
 	$(call PrintBuildLogFailures)
 	$(call ReportProfileTimes)
-	$(PRINTF) "HELP: Run 'make doctor' to diagnose build problems.\n\n"
+	$(ECHO) "HELP: Run 'make doctor' to diagnose build problems."
+	$(ECHO) ""
         ifneq ($(COMPARE_BUILD), )
 	  $(call CleanupCompareBuild)
         endif
diff --git a/make/InitSupport.gmk b/make/InitSupport.gmk
index a9af44e4225..809d1128692 100644
--- a/make/InitSupport.gmk
+++ b/make/InitSupport.gmk
@@ -173,9 +173,10 @@ define PrintFailureReports
 	  $(RM) $(MAKESUPPORT_OUTPUTDIR)/failure-summary.log ; \
 	  $(if $(wildcard $(MAKESUPPORT_OUTPUTDIR)/failure-logs/*.log), \
 	    ( \
-	      $(PRINTF) "\n=== Output from failing command(s) repeated here ===\n" ;  \
+	      $(ECHO) "" ; \
+	      $(ECHO) "=== Output from failing command(s) repeated here ===" ;  \
 	      $(foreach logfile, $(sort $(wildcard $(MAKESUPPORT_OUTPUTDIR)/failure-logs/*.log)), \
-	          $(PRINTF) "* For target $(notdir $(basename $(logfile))):\n" ; \
+	          $(ECHO) "* For target $(notdir $(basename $(logfile))):" ; \
 	          $(if $(filter all, $(LOG_REPORT)), \
 	            $(GREP) -v -e "^Note: including file:" <  $(logfile) || true ; \
 	          , \
@@ -185,8 +186,9 @@ define PrintFailureReports
 	            fi ; \
 	          ) \
 	      ) \
-	      $(PRINTF) "\n* All command lines available in $(MAKESUPPORT_OUTPUTDIR)/failure-logs.\n" ; \
-	      $(PRINTF) "=== End of repeated output ===\n" ; \
+	      $(ECHO) "" ; \
+	      $(ECHO) "* All command lines available in $(MAKESUPPORT_OUTPUTDIR)/failure-logs." ; \
+	      $(ECHO) "=== End of repeated output ===" ; \
 	    )  >> $(MAKESUPPORT_OUTPUTDIR)/failure-summary.log  \
 	  ) \
 	)
@@ -195,13 +197,16 @@ endef
 define PrintBuildLogFailures
 	$(if $(filter none, $(LOG_REPORT)), , \
 	  if $(GREP) -q "recipe for target .* failed" $(BUILD_LOG) 2> /dev/null; then  \
-	    $(PRINTF) "\n=== Make failed targets repeated here ===\n" ; \
+	    $(ECHO) "" ; \
+	    $(ECHO) "=== Make failed targets repeated here ===" ; \
 	    $(GREP) "recipe for target .* failed" $(BUILD_LOG) ; \
-	    $(PRINTF) "=== End of repeated output ===\n" ; \
-	    $(PRINTF) "\nHELP: Try searching the build log for the name of the first failed target.\n" ; \
+	    $(ECHO) "=== End of repeated output ===" ; \
+	    $(ECHO) "" ; \
+	    $(ECHO) "HELP: Try searching the build log for the name of the first failed target." ; \
 	  else \
-	    $(PRINTF) "\nNo indication of failed target found.\n" ; \
-	    $(PRINTF) "HELP: Try searching the build log for '] Error'.\n" ; \
+	    $(ECHO) "" ; \
+	    $(ECHO) "No indication of failed target found." ; \
+	    $(ECHO) "HELP: Try searching the build log for '] Error'." ; \
 	  fi >> $(MAKESUPPORT_OUTPUTDIR)/failure-summary.log ; \
 	  $(CAT) $(MAKESUPPORT_OUTPUTDIR)/failure-summary.log \
 	)
diff --git a/make/MainSupport.gmk b/make/MainSupport.gmk
index f7ba4de2d53..ae4858c35af 100644
--- a/make/MainSupport.gmk
+++ b/make/MainSupport.gmk
@@ -57,77 +57,77 @@ define SetupTargetBody
 endef
 
 define CleanDocs
-	@$(PRINTF) "Cleaning docs ..."
-	@$(PRINTF) "\n" $(LOG_DEBUG)
+	@$(ECHO) -n "Cleaning docs ..."
+	@$(ECHO) "" $(LOG_DEBUG)
 	$(RM) -r $(SUPPORT_OUTPUTDIR)/docs
 	$(RM) -r $(SUPPORT_OUTPUTDIR)/javadoc
 	$(RM) -r $(IMAGES_OUTPUTDIR)/docs
-	@$(PRINTF) " done\n"
+	@$(ECHO) " done"
 endef
 
 # Cleans the dir given as $1
 define CleanDir
-	@$(PRINTF) "Cleaning $(strip $1) build artifacts ..."
-	@$(PRINTF) "\n" $(LOG_DEBUG)
+	@$(ECHO) -n "Cleaning $(strip $1) build artifacts ..."
+	@$(ECHO) "" $(LOG_DEBUG)
 	($(CD) $(OUTPUTDIR) && $(RM) -r $1)
-	@$(PRINTF) " done\n"
+	@$(ECHO) " done"
 endef
 
 define CleanSupportDir
-	@$(PRINTF) "Cleaning $(strip $1) build artifacts ..."
-	@$(PRINTF) "\n" $(LOG_DEBUG)
+	@$(ECHO) -n "Cleaning$(strip $1) build artifacts ..."
+	@$(ECHO) "" $(LOG_DEBUG)
 	$(RM) -r $(SUPPORT_OUTPUTDIR)/$(strip $1)
-	@$(PRINTF) " done\n"
+	@$(ECHO) " done"
 endef
 
 define CleanMakeSupportDir
-	@$(PRINTF) "Cleaning $(strip $1) make support artifacts ..."
-	@$(PRINTF) "\n" $(LOG_DEBUG)
+	@$(ECHO) -n "Cleaning $(strip $1) make support artifacts ..."
+	@$(ECHO) "" $(LOG_DEBUG)
 	$(RM) -r $(MAKESUPPORT_OUTPUTDIR)/$(strip $1)
-	@$(PRINTF) " done\n"
+	@$(ECHO) " done"
 endef
 
 define CleanTest
-	@$(PRINTF) "Cleaning test $(strip $1) ..."
-	@$(PRINTF) "\n" $(LOG_DEBUG)
+	@$(ECHO) -n "Cleaning test $(strip $1) ..."
+	@$(ECHO) "" $(LOG_DEBUG)
 	$(RM) -r $(SUPPORT_OUTPUTDIR)/test/$(strip $(subst -,/,$1))
         # Remove as much of the test directory structure as is empty
 	$(RMDIR) -p $(dir $(SUPPORT_OUTPUTDIR)/test/$(strip $(subst -,/,$1))) 2> /dev/null || true
-	@$(PRINTF) " done\n"
+	@$(ECHO) " done"
 endef
 
 define Clean-gensrc
-	@$(PRINTF) "Cleaning gensrc $(if $1,for $(strip $1) )..."
-	@$(PRINTF) "\n" $(LOG_DEBUG)
+	@$(ECHO) -n "Cleaning gensrc $(if $1,for $(strip $1) )..."
+	@$(ECHO) "" $(LOG_DEBUG)
 	$(RM) -r $(SUPPORT_OUTPUTDIR)/gensrc/$(strip $1)
-	@$(PRINTF) " done\n"
+	@$(ECHO) " done"
 endef
 
 define Clean-java
-	@$(PRINTF) "Cleaning java $(if $1,for $(strip $1) )..."
-	@$(PRINTF) "\n" $(LOG_DEBUG)
+	@$(ECHO) -n "Cleaning java $(if $1,for $(strip $1) )..."
+	@$(ECHO) "" $(LOG_DEBUG)
 	$(RM) -r $(JDK_OUTPUTDIR)/modules/$(strip $1)
 	$(RM) -r $(SUPPORT_OUTPUTDIR)/special_classes/$(strip $1)
-	$(PRINTF) " done\n"
-	$(PRINTF) "Cleaning headers $(if $1,for $(strip $1)) ..."
+	$(ECHO) " done"
+	$(ECHO) -n "Cleaning headers $(if $1,for $(strip $1) )..."
 	$(RM) -r $(SUPPORT_OUTPUTDIR)/headers/$(strip $1)
-	@$(PRINTF) " done\n"
+	@$(ECHO) " done"
 endef
 
 define Clean-native
-	@$(PRINTF) "Cleaning native $(if $1,for $(strip $1) )..."
-	@$(PRINTF) "\n" $(LOG_DEBUG)
+	@$(ECHO) -n "Cleaning native $(if $1,for $(strip $1) )..."
+	@$(ECHO) "" $(LOG_DEBUG)
 	$(RM) -r $(SUPPORT_OUTPUTDIR)/native/$(strip $1)
 	$(RM) -r $(SUPPORT_OUTPUTDIR)/modules_libs/$(strip $1)
 	$(RM) -r $(SUPPORT_OUTPUTDIR)/modules_cmds/$(strip $1)
-	@$(PRINTF) " done\n"
+	@$(ECHO) " done"
 endef
 
 define Clean-include
-	@$(PRINTF) "Cleaning include $(if $1,for $(strip $1) )..."
-	@$(PRINTF) "\n" $(LOG_DEBUG)
+	@$(ECHO) -n "Cleaning include $(if $1,for $(strip $1) )..."
+	@$(ECHO) "" $(LOG_DEBUG)
 	$(RM) -r $(SUPPORT_OUTPUTDIR)/modules_include/$(strip $1)
-	@$(PRINTF) " done\n"
+	@$(ECHO) " done"
 endef
 
 define CleanModule
diff --git a/make/RunTests.gmk b/make/RunTests.gmk
index b9fd3e755d1..7aa0082e0ae 100644
--- a/make/RunTests.gmk
+++ b/make/RunTests.gmk
@@ -1017,7 +1017,8 @@ define SetupRunJtregTestBody
     $1_COMMAND_LINE := \
         for i in {0..$$(JTREG_RETRY_COUNT)}; do \
           if [ "$$$$i" != 0 ]; then \
-            $$(PRINTF) "\nRetrying Jtreg run. Attempt: $$$$i\n"; \
+            $$(ECHO) ""; \
+            $$(ECHO) "Retrying Jtreg run. Attempt: $$$$i"; \
           fi; \
           $$($1_COMMAND_LINE); \
           if [ "`$$(CAT) $$($1_EXITCODE)`" = "0" ]; then \
@@ -1030,10 +1031,12 @@ define SetupRunJtregTestBody
   ifneq ($$(JTREG_REPEAT_COUNT), 0)
     $1_COMMAND_LINE := \
         for i in {1..$$(JTREG_REPEAT_COUNT)}; do \
-          $$(PRINTF) "\nRepeating Jtreg run: $$$$i out of $$(JTREG_REPEAT_COUNT)\n"; \
+          $$(ECHO) ""; \
+          $$(ECHO) "Repeating Jtreg run: $$$$i out of $$(JTREG_REPEAT_COUNT)"; \
           $$($1_COMMAND_LINE); \
           if [ "`$$(CAT) $$($1_EXITCODE)`" != "0" ]; then \
-            $$(PRINTF) "\nFailures detected, no more repeats.\n"; \
+            $$(ECHO) ""; \
+            $$(ECHO) "Failures detected, no more repeats."; \
             break; \
           fi; \
         done
diff --git a/make/SourceRevision.gmk b/make/SourceRevision.gmk
index 285aaae17b5..15399527e6a 100644
--- a/make/SourceRevision.gmk
+++ b/make/SourceRevision.gmk
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ ifneq ($(and $(GIT), $(wildcard $(TOPDIR)/.git)), )
   SCM_DIR := .git
   ID_COMMAND := $(PRINTF) "git:%s%s\n" \
       "$$($(GIT) log -n1 --format=%H | cut -c1-12)" \
-      "$$(if test -n "$$($(GIT) status --porcelain)"; then printf '+'; fi)"
+      "$$(if test -n "$$($(GIT) status --porcelain)"; then $(PRINTF) '+'; fi)"
 endif
 
 ifeq ($(USE_SCM), true)
diff --git a/make/autoconf/help.m4 b/make/autoconf/help.m4
index 400acf11a63..93796d27f06 100644
--- a/make/autoconf/help.m4
+++ b/make/autoconf/help.m4
@@ -228,19 +228,19 @@ AC_DEFUN_ONCE([HELP_PRINT_ADDITIONAL_HELP_AND_EXIT],
   if test "x$CONFIGURE_PRINT_ADDITIONAL_HELP" != x; then
 
     # Print available toolchains
-    $PRINTF "The following toolchains are valid as arguments to --with-toolchain-type.\n"
-    $PRINTF "Which are available to use depends on the build platform.\n"
+    $ECHO "The following toolchains are valid as arguments to --with-toolchain-type."
+    $ECHO "Which are available to use depends on the build platform."
     for toolchain in $VALID_TOOLCHAINS_all; do
       # Use indirect variable referencing
       toolchain_var_name=TOOLCHAIN_DESCRIPTION_$toolchain
       TOOLCHAIN_DESCRIPTION=${!toolchain_var_name}
       $PRINTF "  %-22s  %s\n" $toolchain "$TOOLCHAIN_DESCRIPTION"
     done
-    $PRINTF "\n"
+    $ECHO ""
 
     # Print available JVM features
-    $PRINTF "The following JVM features are valid as arguments to --with-jvm-features.\n"
-    $PRINTF "Which are available to use depends on the environment and JVM variant.\n"
+    $ECHO "The following JVM features are valid as arguments to --with-jvm-features."
+    $ECHO "Which are available to use depends on the environment and JVM variant."
     m4_foreach(FEATURE, m4_split(jvm_features_valid), [
       # Create an m4 variable containing the description for FEATURE.
       m4_define(FEATURE_DESCRIPTION, [jvm_feature_desc_]m4_translit(FEATURE, -, _))
@@ -257,115 +257,117 @@ AC_DEFUN_ONCE([HELP_PRINT_SUMMARY_AND_WARNINGS],
 [
   # Finally output some useful information to the user
 
-  printf "\n"
-  printf "====================================================\n"
+  $ECHO ""
+  $ECHO "===================================================="
   if test "x$no_create" != "xyes"; then
     if test "x$IS_RECONFIGURE" != "xyes"; then
-      printf "A new configuration has been successfully created in\n%s\n" "$OUTPUTDIR"
+      $ECHO "A new configuration has been successfully created in"
+      $ECHO "$OUTPUTDIR"
     else
-      printf "The existing configuration has been successfully updated in\n%s\n" "$OUTPUTDIR"
+      $ECHO "The existing configuration has been successfully updated in"
+      $ECHO "$OUTPUTDIR"
     fi
   else
     if test "x$IS_RECONFIGURE" != "xyes"; then
-      printf "A configuration has been successfully checked but not created\n"
+      $ECHO "A configuration has been successfully checked but not created"
     else
-      printf "The existing configuration has been successfully checked in\n%s\n" "$OUTPUTDIR"
+      $ECHO "The existing configuration has been successfully checked in"
+      $ECHO "$OUTPUTDIR"
     fi
   fi
   if test "x$CONFIGURE_COMMAND_LINE" != x; then
-    printf "using configure arguments '$CONFIGURE_COMMAND_LINE'.\n"
+    $ECHO "using configure arguments '$CONFIGURE_COMMAND_LINE'."
   else
-    printf "using default settings.\n"
+    $ECHO "using default settings."
   fi
 
   if test "x$REAL_CONFIGURE_COMMAND_EXEC_FULL" != x; then
-    printf "\n"
-    printf "The original configure invocation was '$REAL_CONFIGURE_COMMAND_EXEC_SHORT $REAL_CONFIGURE_COMMAND_LINE'.\n"
+    $ECHO ""
+    $ECHO "The original configure invocation was '$REAL_CONFIGURE_COMMAND_EXEC_SHORT $REAL_CONFIGURE_COMMAND_LINE'."
   fi
 
-  printf "\n"
-  printf "Configuration summary:\n"
-  printf "* Name:           $CONF_NAME\n"
-  printf "* Debug level:    $DEBUG_LEVEL\n"
-  printf "* HS debug level: $HOTSPOT_DEBUG_LEVEL\n"
-  printf "* JVM variants:   $JVM_VARIANTS\n"
-  printf "* JVM features:   "
+  $ECHO ""
+  $ECHO "Configuration summary:"
+  $ECHO "* Name:           $CONF_NAME"
+  $ECHO "* Debug level:    $DEBUG_LEVEL"
+  $ECHO "* HS debug level: $HOTSPOT_DEBUG_LEVEL"
+  $ECHO "* JVM variants:   $JVM_VARIANTS"
+  $ECHO -n "* JVM features:   "
 
   for variant in $JVM_VARIANTS; do
     features_var_name=JVM_FEATURES_$variant
     JVM_FEATURES_FOR_VARIANT=${!features_var_name}
-    printf "$variant: \'$JVM_FEATURES_FOR_VARIANT\' "
+    $ECHO -n "$variant: '$JVM_FEATURES_FOR_VARIANT' "
   done
-  printf "\n"
+  $ECHO ""
 
-  printf "* OpenJDK target: OS: $OPENJDK_TARGET_OS, CPU architecture: $OPENJDK_TARGET_CPU_ARCH, address length: $OPENJDK_TARGET_CPU_BITS\n"
-  printf "* Version string: $VERSION_STRING ($VERSION_SHORT)\n"
+  $ECHO "* OpenJDK target: OS: $OPENJDK_TARGET_OS, CPU architecture: $OPENJDK_TARGET_CPU_ARCH, address length: $OPENJDK_TARGET_CPU_BITS"
+  $ECHO "* Version string: $VERSION_STRING ($VERSION_SHORT)"
 
   if test "x$SOURCE_DATE" != xupdated; then
     source_date_info="$SOURCE_DATE ($SOURCE_DATE_ISO_8601)"
   else
     source_date_info="Determined at build time"
   fi
-  printf "* Source date:    $source_date_info\n"
+  $ECHO "* Source date:    $source_date_info"
 
-  printf "\n"
-  printf "Tools summary:\n"
+  $ECHO ""
+  $ECHO "Tools summary:"
   if test "x$OPENJDK_BUILD_OS" = "xwindows"; then
-    printf "* Environment:    %s version %s; windows version %s; prefix \"%s\"; root \"%s\"\n" \
-        "$WINENV_VENDOR" "$WINENV_VERSION" "$WINDOWS_VERSION" "$WINENV_PREFIX" "$WINENV_ROOT"
+    $ECHO "* Environment:    $WINENV_VENDOR version $WINENV_VERSION; windows version $WINDOWS_VERSION; prefix \"$WINENV_PREFIX\"; root \"$WINENV_ROOT\""
   fi
-  printf "* Boot JDK:       $BOOT_JDK_VERSION (at $BOOT_JDK)\n"
-  printf "* Toolchain:      $TOOLCHAIN_TYPE ($TOOLCHAIN_DESCRIPTION)\n"
+  $ECHO "* Boot JDK:       $BOOT_JDK_VERSION (at $BOOT_JDK)"
+  $ECHO "* Toolchain:      $TOOLCHAIN_TYPE ($TOOLCHAIN_DESCRIPTION)"
   if test "x$DEVKIT_NAME" != x; then
-    printf "* Devkit:         $DEVKIT_NAME ($DEVKIT_ROOT)\n"
+    $ECHO "* Devkit:         $DEVKIT_NAME ($DEVKIT_ROOT)"
   elif test "x$DEVKIT_ROOT" != x; then
-    printf "* Devkit:         $DEVKIT_ROOT\n"
+    $ECHO "* Devkit:         $DEVKIT_ROOT"
   elif test "x$SYSROOT" != x; then
-    printf "* Sysroot:        $SYSROOT\n"
+    $ECHO "* Sysroot:        $SYSROOT"
   fi
-  printf "* C Compiler:     Version $CC_VERSION_NUMBER (at ${CC#"$FIXPATH "})\n"
-  printf "* C++ Compiler:   Version $CXX_VERSION_NUMBER (at ${CXX#"$FIXPATH "})\n"
+  $ECHO "* C Compiler:     Version $CC_VERSION_NUMBER (at ${CC#"$FIXPATH "})"
+  $ECHO "* C++ Compiler:   Version $CXX_VERSION_NUMBER (at ${CXX#"$FIXPATH "})"
 
-  printf "\n"
-  printf "Build performance summary:\n"
-  printf "* Build jobs:     $JOBS\n"
-  printf "* Memory limit:   $MEMORY_SIZE MB\n"
+  $ECHO ""
+  $ECHO "Build performance summary:"
+  $ECHO "* Build jobs:     $JOBS"
+  $ECHO "* Memory limit:   $MEMORY_SIZE MB"
   if test "x$CCACHE_STATUS" != "x"; then
-    printf "* ccache status:  $CCACHE_STATUS\n"
+    $ECHO "* ccache status:  $CCACHE_STATUS"
   fi
-  printf "\n"
+  $ECHO ""
 
   if test "x$BUILDING_MULTIPLE_JVM_VARIANTS" = "xtrue"; then
-    printf "NOTE: You have requested to build more than one version of the JVM, which\n"
-    printf "will result in longer build times.\n"
-    printf "\n"
+    $ECHO "NOTE: You have requested to build more than one version of the JVM, which"
+    $ECHO "will result in longer build times."
+    $ECHO ""
   fi
 
   if test "x$OUTPUT_DIR_IS_LOCAL" != "xyes"; then
-    printf "WARNING: Your build output directory is not on a local disk.\n"
-    printf "This will severely degrade build performance!\n"
-    printf "It is recommended that you create an output directory on a local disk,\n"
-    printf "and run the configure script again from that directory.\n"
-    printf "\n"
+    $ECHO "WARNING: Your build output directory is not on a local disk."
+    $ECHO "This will severely degrade build performance!"
+    $ECHO "It is recommended that you create an output directory on a local disk,"
+    $ECHO "and run the configure script again from that directory."
+    $ECHO ""
   fi
 
   if test "x$IS_RECONFIGURE" = "xyes" && test "x$no_create" != "xyes"; then
-    printf "WARNING: The result of this configuration has overridden an older\n"
-    printf "configuration. You *should* run 'make clean' to make sure you get a\n"
-    printf "proper build. Failure to do so might result in strange build problems.\n"
-    printf "\n"
+    $ECHO "WARNING: The result of this configuration has overridden an older"
+    $ECHO "configuration. You *should* run 'make clean' to make sure you get a"
+    $ECHO "proper build. Failure to do so might result in strange build problems."
+    $ECHO ""
   fi
 
   if test "x$IS_RECONFIGURE" != "xyes" && test "x$no_create" = "xyes"; then
-    printf "WARNING: The result of this configuration was not saved.\n"
-    printf "You should run without '--no-create | -n' to create the configuration.\n"
-    printf "\n"
+    $ECHO "WARNING: The result of this configuration was not saved."
+    $ECHO "You should run without '--no-create | -n' to create the configuration."
+    $ECHO ""
   fi
 
   if test "x$UNSUPPORTED_TOOLCHAIN_VERSION" = "xyes"; then
-    printf "WARNING: The toolchain version used is known to have issues. Please\n"
-    printf "consider using a supported version unless you know what you are doing.\n"
-    printf "\n"
+    $ECHO "WARNING: The toolchain version used is known to have issues. Please"
+    $ECHO "consider using a supported version unless you know what you are doing."
+    $ECHO ""
   fi
 ])
 
@@ -381,10 +383,10 @@ AC_DEFUN_ONCE([HELP_REPEAT_WARNINGS],
   if test -e "$CONFIG_LOG_PATH/config.log"; then
     $GREP '^configure:.*: WARNING:' "$CONFIG_LOG_PATH/config.log" > /dev/null 2>&1
     if test $? -eq 0; then
-      printf "The following warnings were produced. Repeated here for convenience:\n"
+      $ECHO "The following warnings were produced. Repeated here for convenience:"
       # We must quote sed expression (using []) to stop m4 from eating the [].
       $GREP '^configure:.*: WARNING:' "$CONFIG_LOG_PATH/config.log" | $SED -e [ 's/^configure:[0-9]*: //' ]
-      printf "\n"
+      $ECHO ""
     fi
   fi
 ])
diff --git a/make/common/FindTests.gmk b/make/common/FindTests.gmk
index 1f3a70b3035..41cf08d9e48 100644
--- a/make/common/FindTests.gmk
+++ b/make/common/FindTests.gmk
@@ -58,13 +58,15 @@ ifeq ($(GENERATE_FIND_TESTS_FILE), true)
       $(TOPDIR)/test/make/TestMake.gmk
 	$(call MakeTargetDir)
 	( $(foreach root, $(JTREG_TESTROOTS), \
-	    $(PRINTF) "\n$(root)_JTREG_TEST_GROUPS := " ; \
+	    $(ECHO) ""; \
+	    $(ECHO) -n "$(root)_JTREG_TEST_GROUPS := "; \
 	    $(SED) -n -e 's/^\#.*//g' -e 's/\([^ ]*\)\w*=.*/\1/gp' \
 	      $($(root)_JTREG_GROUP_FILES) \
 	      | $(SORT) -u | $(TR) '\n' ' ' ; \
 	  ) \
 	) > $@
-	$(PRINTF) "\nMAKE_TEST_TARGETS := " >> $@
+	$(ECHO) "" >> $@
+	$(ECHO) -n "MAKE_TEST_TARGETS := " >> $@
 	$(MAKE) -s --no-print-directory $(MAKE_ARGS) \
 	    SPEC=$(SPEC) -f $(TOPDIR)/test/make/TestMake.gmk print-targets \
 	    TARGETS_FILE=$@
diff --git a/make/common/JarArchive.gmk b/make/common/JarArchive.gmk
index 1f8ed1bc002..26a98f28949 100644
--- a/make/common/JarArchive.gmk
+++ b/make/common/JarArchive.gmk
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ define SetupJarArchiveBody
 	  $$(if $$($1_JARMAIN), \
 	    $(ECHO) "Main-Class: $$(strip $$($1_JARMAIN))" >> $$($1_MANIFEST_FILE) $$(NEWLINE)) \
 	  $$(if $$($1_EXTRA_MANIFEST_ATTR), \
-	    $(PRINTF) "$$($1_EXTRA_MANIFEST_ATTR)\n" >> $$($1_MANIFEST_FILE) $$(NEWLINE)) \
+	    $(ECHO) "$$($1_EXTRA_MANIFEST_ATTR)" >> $$($1_MANIFEST_FILE) $$(NEWLINE)) \
 	  $(ECHO) Creating $$($1_NAME) $$(NEWLINE) \
 	  $$($1_JAR_CMD) --create $$($1_JAR_OPTIONS) --file $$@ --manifest $$($1_MANIFEST_FILE) $$(NEWLINE) \
 	  $$($1_SCAPTURE_CONTENTS) \
diff --git a/make/common/Modules.gmk b/make/common/Modules.gmk
index f4f815c740d..663e9075cf8 100644
--- a/make/common/Modules.gmk
+++ b/make/common/Modules.gmk
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ ifeq ($(GENERATE_MODULE_DEPS_FILE), true)
 	$(call MakeTargetDir)
 	$(RM) $@
 	$(foreach m, $(MODULE_INFOS), \
-	    ( $(PRINTF) "DEPS_$(call GetModuleNameFromModuleInfo, $m) := " && \
+	    ( $(ECHO) -n "DEPS_$(call GetModuleNameFromModuleInfo, $m) := " && \
 	      $(AWK) -v MODULE=$(call GetModuleNameFromModuleInfo, $m) ' \
 	          BEGIN      { if (MODULE != "java.base") printf(" java.base"); } \
 	          /^ *requires/ { sub(/;/, ""); \
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ ifeq ($(GENERATE_MODULE_DEPS_FILE), true)
 	                          gsub(/\r/, ""); \
 	                          printf(" %s", $$0) } \
 	          END           { printf("\n") }' $m && \
-	      $(PRINTF) "TRANSITIVE_MODULES_$(call GetModuleNameFromModuleInfo, $m) := " && \
+	      $(ECHO) -n "TRANSITIVE_MODULES_$(call GetModuleNameFromModuleInfo, $m) := " && \
 	      $(AWK) -v MODULE=$(call GetModuleNameFromModuleInfo, $m) ' \
 	          BEGIN      { if (MODULE != "java.base") printf(" java.base"); } \
 	          /^ *requires  *transitive/ { \
diff --git a/make/common/modules/GensrcCommon.gmk b/make/common/modules/GensrcCommon.gmk
index 64d1f71d82e..2a94c3f9a42 100644
--- a/make/common/modules/GensrcCommon.gmk
+++ b/make/common/modules/GensrcCommon.gmk
@@ -41,8 +41,8 @@ include $(TOPDIR)/make/ToolsJdk.gmk
 define SetupVersionProperties
   $(SUPPORT_OUTPUTDIR)/gensrc/$(MODULE)/$$(strip $2):
 	$$(call MakeTargetDir)
-	$(PRINTF) "jdk=$(VERSION_NUMBER)\nfull=$(VERSION_STRING)\nrelease=$(VERSION_SHORT)\n" \
-	    > $$@
+	$(PRINTF) "jdk=%s\nfull=%s\nrelease=%s\n" \
+	    $(VERSION_NUMBER) $(VERSION_STRING) $(VERSION_SHORT) > $$@
 
   $$(strip $1) += $(SUPPORT_OUTPUTDIR)/gensrc/$(MODULE)/$$(strip $2)
 endef
diff --git a/make/modules/java.base/Copy.gmk b/make/modules/java.base/Copy.gmk
index e33676529cd..4625c1f7dbc 100644
--- a/make/modules/java.base/Copy.gmk
+++ b/make/modules/java.base/Copy.gmk
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ JVMCFG := $(LIB_DST_DIR)/jvm.cfg
 
 define print-cfg-line
 	$(call LogInfo, Adding -$1 $2 to jvm.cfg)
-	$(PRINTF) -- "-$1 $2\n" >> $@ $(NEWLINE)
+	$(ECHO) "-$1 $2" >> $@ $(NEWLINE)
 endef
 
 $(JVMCFG): $(call DependOnVariable, ORDERED_CFG_VARIANTS)
diff --git a/make/modules/java.base/gensrc/GensrcBuffer.gmk b/make/modules/java.base/gensrc/GensrcBuffer.gmk
index f769a8e61e0..dd91c8c870a 100644
--- a/make/modules/java.base/gensrc/GensrcBuffer.gmk
+++ b/make/modules/java.base/gensrc/GensrcBuffer.gmk
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ define SetupGenBuffer
 	  $$($1_long_CMD) -i$$($1_SRC_BIN) -o$$($1_DST).tmp
 	  $$($1_float_CMD) -i$$($1_SRC_BIN) -o$$($1_DST).tmp
 	  $$($1_double_CMD) -i$$($1_SRC_BIN) -o$$($1_DST).tmp
-	  $(PRINTF) "}\n" >> $$($1_DST).tmp
+	  $(ECHO) "}" >> $$($1_DST).tmp
 	  mv $$($1_DST).tmp $$($1_DST)
         endif
 
diff --git a/make/modules/java.base/gensrc/GensrcScopedMemoryAccess.gmk b/make/modules/java.base/gensrc/GensrcScopedMemoryAccess.gmk
index 00fba64394b..ea51e4fd4ee 100644
--- a/make/modules/java.base/gensrc/GensrcScopedMemoryAccess.gmk
+++ b/make/modules/java.base/gensrc/GensrcScopedMemoryAccess.gmk
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ $(SCOPED_MEMORY_ACCESS_DEST): $(BUILD_TOOLS_JDK) $(SCOPED_MEMORY_ACCESS_TEMPLATE
 	$(foreach t, $(SCOPE_MEMORY_ACCESS_TYPES), \
 	  $(TOOL_SPP) -nel -K$(BIN_$t_type) -Dtype=$(BIN_$t_type) -DType=$(BIN_$t_Type) $(BIN_$t_ARGS) \
 	  -i$(SCOPED_MEMORY_ACCESS_BIN_TEMPLATE) -o$(SCOPED_MEMORY_ACCESS_DEST) ;)
-	$(PRINTF) "}\n" >> $(SCOPED_MEMORY_ACCESS_DEST)
+	$(ECHO) "}" >> $(SCOPED_MEMORY_ACCESS_DEST)
 
 TARGETS += $(SCOPED_MEMORY_ACCESS_DEST)
 
diff --git a/make/scripts/compare.sh b/make/scripts/compare.sh
index cc2f4adf2ed..250b5a37b9f 100644
--- a/make/scripts/compare.sh
+++ b/make/scripts/compare.sh
@@ -203,12 +203,12 @@ compare_permissions() {
     do
         if [ ! -f ${OTHER_DIR}/$f ]; then continue; fi
         if [ ! -f ${THIS_DIR}/$f ]; then continue; fi
-        OP=`ls -l ${OTHER_DIR}/$f | awk '{printf("%.10s\n", $1);}'`
-        TP=`ls -l ${THIS_DIR}/$f | awk '{printf("%.10s\n", $1);}'`
+        OP=`ls -l ${OTHER_DIR}/$f | $AWK '{printf("%.10s\n", $1);}'`
+        TP=`ls -l ${THIS_DIR}/$f | $AWK '{printf("%.10s\n", $1);}'`
         if [ "$OP" != "$TP" ]
         then
             if [ -z "$found" ]; then echo ; found="yes"; fi
-            $PRINTF "\tother: ${OP} this: ${TP}\t$f\n"
+            $PRINTF "\tother: %s this: %s\t%s\n" "${OP}" "${TP}" "$f"
         fi
     done
     if [ -z "$found" ]; then
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ compare_file_types() {
                 continue
             else
                 if [ -z "$found" ]; then echo ; found="yes"; fi
-                $PRINTF "\tother: ${OF}\n\tthis : ${TF}\n"
+                $PRINTF "\tother: %s\n\tthis : %s\n" "${OF}" "${TF}"
             fi
         fi
     done
diff --git a/test/make/autoconf/test.m4 b/test/make/autoconf/test.m4
index 07fb91f6ff7..0aa002ef9bf 100644
--- a/test/make/autoconf/test.m4
+++ b/test/make/autoconf/test.m4
@@ -92,14 +92,16 @@ AC_DEFUN([TEST_ARG_ENABLE],
 # Use the CUSTOM_EARLY_HOOK to inject our test after basic init is done.
 AC_DEFUN_ONCE([CUSTOM_EARLY_HOOK],
 [
-  $PRINTF "\nStarting configure tests\n"
-  $PRINTF "==============================\n"
+  $ECHO ""
+  $ECHO "Starting configure tests"
+  $ECHO "=============================="
 
   TEST_STRING_OPS
   TEST_ARG_ENABLE
 
   # If no assertions failed, report success
-  $PRINTF "==============================\n"
-  $PRINTF "Configure tests finished successfully\n\n"
+  $ECHO "=============================="
+  $ECHO "Configure tests finished successfully"
+  $ECHO ""
   exit 0
 ])