diff --git a/build_tests/build_dir/echo_command_ruby_builder.rb b/build_tests/build_dir/echo_command_ruby_builder.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..60309e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/build_tests/build_dir/echo_command_ruby_builder.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+Rscons::Environment.new do |env|
+  env.echo = :command
+  env.Install("inst.exe", "install.rb")
+end
+
diff --git a/build_tests/build_dir/echo_command_string.rb b/build_tests/build_dir/echo_command_string.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..95c8523
--- /dev/null
+++ b/build_tests/build_dir/echo_command_string.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+class MyBuilder < Rscons::Builder
+  def run(options)
+    env, target = options.values_at(:env, :target)
+    env.print_builder_run_message("MyBuilder #{target}", "MyBuilder #{target} command")
+    target
+  end
+end
+
+Rscons::Environment.new do |env|
+  env.echo = :command
+  env.add_builder(MyBuilder.new)
+  env.MyBuilder("foo")
+end
diff --git a/lib/rscons/builders/directory.rb b/lib/rscons/builders/directory.rb
index b308f95..e08b9d6 100644
--- a/lib/rscons/builders/directory.rb
+++ b/lib/rscons/builders/directory.rb
@@ -20,8 +20,7 @@ module Rscons
           Ansi.write($stderr, :red, "Error: `#{target}' already exists and is not a directory", :reset, "\n")
           false
         else
-          desc = "Directory #{target}"
-          env.print_builder_run_message(desc, desc)
+          env.print_builder_run_message("Directory #{target}", nil)
           cache.mkdir_p(target)
           target
         end
diff --git a/lib/rscons/builders/install.rb b/lib/rscons/builders/install.rb
index a0e134e..7756093 100644
--- a/lib/rscons/builders/install.rb
+++ b/lib/rscons/builders/install.rb
@@ -43,8 +43,7 @@ module Rscons
           # Check the cache and copy if necessary
           unless cache.up_to_date?(dest, :Copy, [src], env)
             unless printed_message
-              desc = "#{name} #{target}"
-              env.print_builder_run_message(desc, desc)
+              env.print_builder_run_message("#{name} #{target}", nil)
               printed_message = true
             end
             cache.mkdir_p(File.dirname(dest))
diff --git a/lib/rscons/environment.rb b/lib/rscons/environment.rb
index b79c0da..c844ee8 100644
--- a/lib/rscons/environment.rb
+++ b/lib/rscons/environment.rb
@@ -885,7 +885,13 @@ module Rscons
     def print_builder_run_message(short_description, command)
       case @echo
       when :command
-        message = command_to_s(command) if command
+        if command.is_a?(Array)
+          message = command_to_s(command)
+        elsif command.is_a?(String)
+          message = command
+        elsif short_description.is_a?(String)
+          message = short_description
+        end
       when :short
         message = short_description if short_description
       end
diff --git a/spec/build_tests_spec.rb b/spec/build_tests_spec.rb
index 963fb5e..88a39cc 100644
--- a/spec/build_tests_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/build_tests_spec.rb
@@ -769,6 +769,22 @@ EOF
     expect(lines(result.stdout)).to eq ["165"]
   end
 
+  it "prints a builder's short description with 'command' echo mode if there is no command" do
+    test_dir("build_dir")
+
+    result = run_test(rsconsfile: "echo_command_ruby_builder.rb")
+    expect(result.stderr).to eq ""
+    expect(lines(result.stdout)).to eq ["Install inst.exe"]
+  end
+
+  it "supports a string for a builder's echoed 'command' with Environment#print_builder_run_message" do
+    test_dir("build_dir")
+
+    result = run_test(rsconsfile: "echo_command_string.rb")
+    expect(result.stderr).to eq ""
+    expect(lines(result.stdout)).to eq ["MyBuilder foo command"]
+  end
+
   context "colored output" do
     it "does not output in color with --color=off" do
       test_dir("simple")