endef
+PERCENT = %
+QUOTE = '
+# ' # Meh... syntax-highlighting
+
+# This macro properly escapes a command string, then prints it with printf:
+#
+# - first, backslash '\' are self-escaped, so that they do not escape
+# the following char and so that printf properly outputs a backslash;
+#
+# - next, single quotes are escaped by closing an existing one, adding
+# an escaped one, and re-openning a new one (see below for the reason);
+#
+# - then '%' signs are self-escaped so that the printf does not interpret
+# them as a format specifier, in case the variable contains an actual
+# printf with a format;
+#
+# - finally, $(sep) is replaced with the literal '\n' so that make does
+# not break on the so-expanded variable, but so that the printf does
+# correctly output an LF.
+#
+# Note: this must be escaped in this order to avoid over-escaping the
+# previously escaped elements.
+#
+# Once everything has been escaped, it is passed between single quotes
+# (that's why the single-quotes are escaped they way they are, above,
+# and why the dollar sign is not escaped) to printf(1). A trailing
+# newline is apended, too.
+#
+# Note: leading or trailing spaces are *not* stripped.
+#
+define PRINTF
+ printf '$(subst $(sep),\n,\
+ $(subst $(PERCENT),$(PERCENT)$(PERCENT),\
+ $(subst $(QUOTE),$(QUOTE)\$(QUOTE)$(QUOTE),\
+ $(subst \,\\,$(1)))))\n'
+endef
+
# check-deprecated-variable -- throw an error on deprecated variables
# example:
# $(eval $(call check-deprecated-variable,FOO_MAKE_OPT,FOO_MAKE_OPTS))