diff --git a/lib/libsde.in b/lib/libsde.in
index ac34cdd..635bfda 100644
--- a/lib/libsde.in
+++ b/lib/libsde.in
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 # This copyright note is auto-generated by ./scripts/Create-CopyPatch.
 #
 # Filename: lib/libsde.in
-# Copyright (C) 2006 - 2007 The OpenSDE Project
+# Copyright (C) 2006 - 2008 The OpenSDE Project
 #
 # More information can be found in the files COPYING and README.
 #
@@ -32,6 +32,14 @@ if [ ! -e "$SDESETTINGS" ]; then
 	chmod 600 "$SDESETTINGS"
 fi
 
+# how to `echo -e` on this /bin/sh
+#
+if [ "$(echo -e foo)" = "foo" ]; then
+	export ECHO_E="echo -e"
+else
+	export ECHO_E="echo"
+fi
+
 # LOCK/UNLOCK facility
 #
 # FIXME: we must trap Ctrl-C on lock(), and restore the previous