diff --git a/pisi/build.py b/pisi/build.py
index e5f48b8d..2ba5bdd4 100644
--- a/pisi/build.py
+++ b/pisi/build.py
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ class PisiBuild:
         """Build the package in one shot."""
 
         ui.info("Building PISI source package: %s\n" % self.spec.source.name)
+        util.xtermTitle("Building PISI source package: %s\n" % self.spec.source.name)
         
         self.compileActionScript()
          
@@ -337,3 +338,4 @@ class PisiBuild:
             pkg.close()
             os.chdir(c)
             self.setState("buildpackages")
+            util.xtermTitleReset()
diff --git a/pisi/util.py b/pisi/util.py
index b71639ca..350fa1e3 100644
--- a/pisi/util.py
+++ b/pisi/util.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 
 # standard python modules
 import os
+import sys
 import sha
 import shutil
 import statvfs
@@ -101,6 +102,22 @@ def run_batch(cmd):
     return (successful,lines)
 
 
+def xtermTitle(message):
+    """sets message as a console window's title"""
+    if os.environ.has_key("TERM") and sys.stderr.isatty():
+        terminalType = os.environ["TERM"]
+        for term in ["xterm", "Eterm", "aterm", "rxvt", "screen", "kterm", "rxvt-unicode"]:
+            if terminalType.startswith(term):
+                sys.stderr.write("\x1b]2;"+str(message)+"\x07")
+                sys.stderr.flush()
+                break
+
+def xtermTitleReset():
+    """resets console window's title"""
+    if os.environ.has_key("TERM"):
+        terminalType = os.environ["TERM"]
+        xtermTitle(os.environ["TERM"])
+
 #############################
 # Path Processing Functions #
 #############################