diff --git a/bin/xbps-install/state_cb.c b/bin/xbps-install/state_cb.c
index a13ebbaf8..e40ef654e 100644
--- a/bin/xbps-install/state_cb.c
+++ b/bin/xbps-install/state_cb.c
@@ -155,12 +155,6 @@ state_cb(const struct xbps_state_cb_data *xscd, void *cbdata UNUSED)
 		printf("Fingerprint: %s\n", xscd->arg);
 		rv = yesno("Do you want to import this public key?");
 		break;
-	case XBPS_STATE_SHOW_INSTALL_MSG:
-		printf("%s: post-install message:\n", xscd->arg);
-		printf("========================================================================\n");
-		printf("%s", xscd->desc);
-		printf("========================================================================\n");
-		break;
 	case XBPS_STATE_UNPACK_FILE_PRESERVED:
 		printf("%s\n", xscd->desc);
 		break;
diff --git a/bin/xbps-install/transaction.c b/bin/xbps-install/transaction.c
index 1e207741d..f69158d4f 100644
--- a/bin/xbps-install/transaction.c
+++ b/bin/xbps-install/transaction.c
@@ -47,16 +47,80 @@ print_array(xbps_array_t a)
 	}
 }
 
+static int
+show_transaction_messages(struct transaction *trans)
+{
+	xbps_object_t obj;
+
+	while ((obj = xbps_object_iterator_next(trans->iter))) {
+		const char *pkgname = NULL;
+		xbps_trans_type_t ttype;
+		const char *key = NULL;
+		xbps_data_t msg, msg_pkgdb;
+		xbps_dictionary_t pkgdb_pkg = NULL;
+		const void *msgptr = NULL;
+		size_t msgsz = 0;
+
+		ttype = xbps_transaction_pkg_type(obj);
+		switch (ttype) {
+		case XBPS_TRANS_REMOVE:
+			key = "remove-msg";
+			break;
+		case XBPS_TRANS_UPDATE:
+			if (xbps_dictionary_get_cstring_nocopy(obj, "pkgname", &pkgname)) {
+				/* ignore impossible errors and just show the message. */
+				pkgdb_pkg = xbps_pkgdb_get_pkg(trans->xhp, pkgname);
+			}
+			/* fallthrough */
+		case XBPS_TRANS_INSTALL:
+			key = "install-msg";
+			break;
+		default:
+			continue;
+		}
+
+		/* Get the message for the package in the transaction */
+		msg = xbps_dictionary_get(obj, key);
+		if (!msg)
+			continue;
+
+		msgsz = xbps_data_size(msg);
+		if (!msgsz) {
+			/* this shouldn't happen, but just ignore it */
+			continue;
+		}
+
+		/* Get the old message if package exists. */
+		if (pkgdb_pkg) {
+			msg_pkgdb = xbps_dictionary_get(pkgdb_pkg, key);
+			if (xbps_data_equals(msg, msg_pkgdb))
+				continue;
+		}
+
+		msgptr = xbps_data_data_nocopy(msg);
+		if (!msgptr)
+			return EINVAL;
+
+		if (!xbps_dictionary_get_cstring_nocopy(obj, "pkgname", &pkgname))
+			pkgname = "?";
+
+		printf("[*] %s %s message:\n", pkgname, ttype2str(obj));
+		fwrite(msgptr, 1, msgsz, stdout);
+		printf("\n\n");
+
+	}
+	xbps_object_iterator_reset(trans->iter);
+	return 0;
+}
+
 static void
-show_actions(xbps_object_iterator_t iter)
+show_dry_run_actions(struct transaction *trans)
 {
 	xbps_object_t obj;
-	const char *repoloc, *trans, *pkgver, *arch;
-	uint64_t isize, dsize;
 
-	while ((obj = xbps_object_iterator_next(iter)) != NULL) {
-		repoloc = trans = pkgver = arch = NULL;
-		isize = dsize = 0;
+	while ((obj = xbps_object_iterator_next(trans->iter)) != NULL) {
+		const char *repoloc = NULL, *pkgver = NULL, *arch = NULL;
+		uint64_t isize = 0, dsize = 0;
 
 		xbps_dictionary_get_cstring_nocopy(obj, "pkgver", &pkgver);
 		printf("%s %s", pkgver, ttype2str(obj));
@@ -405,7 +469,7 @@ exec_transaction(struct xbps_handle *xhp, unsigned int maxcols, bool yes, bool d
 	 * dry-run mode, show what would be done but don't run anything.
 	 */
 	if (drun) {
-		show_actions(trans->iter);
+		show_dry_run_actions(trans);
 		goto out;
 	}
 	/*
@@ -420,6 +484,9 @@ exec_transaction(struct xbps_handle *xhp, unsigned int maxcols, bool yes, bool d
 	if ((rv = show_transaction_sizes(trans, maxcols)) != 0)
 		goto out;
 
+	if ((rv = show_transaction_messages(trans)) != 0)
+		goto out;
+
 	fflush(stdout);
 	/*
 	 * Ask interactively (if -y not set).
diff --git a/bin/xbps-remove/main.c b/bin/xbps-remove/main.c
index 7c24d614d..21636f90d 100644
--- a/bin/xbps-remove/main.c
+++ b/bin/xbps-remove/main.c
@@ -93,12 +93,6 @@ state_cb_rm(const struct xbps_state_cb_data *xscd, void *cbdata UNUSED)
 			    xscd->xhp->rootdir);
 		}
 		break;
-	case XBPS_STATE_SHOW_REMOVE_MSG:
-                printf("%s: pre-remove message:\n", xscd->arg);
-		printf("========================================================================\n");
-		printf("%s", xscd->desc);
-		printf("========================================================================\n");
-		break;
 	/* errors */
 	case XBPS_STATE_REMOVE_FAIL:
 		xbps_error_printf("%s\n", xscd->desc);
diff --git a/include/xbps.h.in b/include/xbps.h.in
index 780673b94..a6a894d4b 100644
--- a/include/xbps.h.in
+++ b/include/xbps.h.in
@@ -317,8 +317,6 @@ extern "C" {
  * - XBPS_STATE_REPOSYNC_FAIL: syncing remote repositories has failed.
  * - XBPS_STATE_REPO_KEY_IMPORT: repository is signed and needs to import pubkey.
  * - XBPS_STATE_INVALID_DEP: package has an invalid dependency.
- * - XBPS_STATE_SHOW_INSTALL_MSG: package must show a post-install message.
- * - XBPS_STATE_SHOW_REMOVE_MSG: package must show a pre-remove message.
  * - XBPS_STATE_ALTGROUP_ADDED: package has registered an alternative group.
  * - XBPS_STATE_ALTGROUP_REMOVED: package has unregistered an alternative group.
  * - XBPS_STATE_ALTGROUP_SWITCHED: alternative group has been switched.
@@ -370,8 +368,6 @@ typedef enum xbps_state {
 	XBPS_STATE_CONFIGURE_DONE,
 	XBPS_STATE_REPO_KEY_IMPORT,
 	XBPS_STATE_INVALID_DEP,
-	XBPS_STATE_SHOW_INSTALL_MSG,
-	XBPS_STATE_SHOW_REMOVE_MSG,
 	XBPS_STATE_UNPACK_FILE_PRESERVED,
 	XBPS_STATE_PKGDB,
 	XBPS_STATE_PKGDB_DONE,
diff --git a/include/xbps_api_impl.h b/include/xbps_api_impl.h
index 66ffc3c1a..cadb746ee 100644
--- a/include/xbps_api_impl.h
+++ b/include/xbps_api_impl.h
@@ -75,7 +75,6 @@ bool HIDDEN xbps_remove_pkg_from_array_by_pattern(xbps_array_t, const char *);
 bool HIDDEN xbps_remove_pkg_from_array_by_pkgver(xbps_array_t, const char *);
 void HIDDEN xbps_fetch_set_cache_connection(int, int);
 void HIDDEN xbps_fetch_unset_cache_connection(void);
-int HIDDEN xbps_cb_message(struct xbps_handle *, xbps_dictionary_t, const char *);
 int HIDDEN xbps_entry_is_a_conf_file(xbps_dictionary_t, const char *);
 int HIDDEN xbps_entry_install_conf_file(struct xbps_handle *, xbps_dictionary_t,
 		xbps_dictionary_t, struct archive_entry *, const char *,
diff --git a/lib/Makefile b/lib/Makefile
index 0cf6ac84f..9bb15b3ca 100644
--- a/lib/Makefile
+++ b/lib/Makefile
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ EXTOBJS = external/dewey.o external/fexec.o external/mkpath.o
 
 # libxbps
 OBJS = package_configure.o package_config_files.o package_orphans.o
-OBJS += package_remove.o package_state.o package_msg.o
+OBJS += package_remove.o package_state.o
 OBJS += package_unpack.o package_register.o package_script.o verifysig.o
 OBJS += transaction_commit.o transaction_prepare.o
 OBJS += transaction_ops.o transaction_store.o transaction_check_replaces.o
diff --git a/lib/package_configure.c b/lib/package_configure.c
index 709ed1287..8dfdb81fd 100644
--- a/lib/package_configure.c
+++ b/lib/package_configure.c
@@ -150,10 +150,8 @@ xbps_configure_pkg(struct xbps_handle *xhp,
 		umask(myumask);
 		return rv;
 	}
-	if (rv == 0)
-		xbps_set_cb_state(xhp, XBPS_STATE_CONFIGURE_DONE, 0, pkgver, NULL);
+	xbps_set_cb_state(xhp, XBPS_STATE_CONFIGURE_DONE, 0, pkgver, NULL);
 
 	umask(myumask);
-	/* show install-msg if exists */
-	return xbps_cb_message(xhp, pkgd, "install-msg");
+	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/lib/package_msg.c b/lib/package_msg.c
deleted file mode 100644
index b7bdfe4be..000000000
--- a/lib/package_msg.c
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,72 +0,0 @@
-/*-
- * Copyright (c) 2014 Juan Romero Pardines.
- * All rights reserved.
- *
- * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
- * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
- * are met:
- * 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
- *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
- * 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
- *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
- *    documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
- *
- * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR ``AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESS OR
- * IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES
- * OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED.
- * IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT,
- * INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT
- * NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
- * DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
- * THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
- * (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF
- * THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
- */
-
-#include <stdio.h>
-#include <stdlib.h>
-#include <string.h>
-#include <errno.h>
-
-#include "xbps_api_impl.h"
-
-int HIDDEN
-xbps_cb_message(struct xbps_handle *xhp, xbps_dictionary_t pkgd, const char *key)
-{
-	xbps_data_t msg;
-	const void *data;
-	const char *pkgver = NULL;
-	size_t len;
-	char *buf = NULL;
-	int rv = 0;
-
-	assert(xhp);
-	assert(pkgd);
-	assert(key);
-
-	xbps_dictionary_get_cstring_nocopy(pkgd, "pkgver", &pkgver);
-
-	/* show install-msg if exists */
-	msg = xbps_dictionary_get(pkgd, key);
-	if (xbps_object_type(msg) != XBPS_TYPE_DATA)
-		goto out;
-
-	/* turn data from msg into a string */
-	data = xbps_data_data_nocopy(msg);
-	len = xbps_data_size(msg);
-	buf = malloc(len+1);
-	assert(buf);
-	memcpy(buf, data, len);
-	/* terminate string */
-	buf[len] = '\0';
-
-	/* notify client to show the post-install message */
-	if (strcmp(key, "install-msg") == 0)
-		xbps_set_cb_state(xhp, XBPS_STATE_SHOW_INSTALL_MSG, 0, pkgver, "%s", buf);
-	else
-		xbps_set_cb_state(xhp, XBPS_STATE_SHOW_REMOVE_MSG, 0, pkgver, "%s", buf);
-
-out:
-	free(buf);
-	return rv;
-}
diff --git a/lib/package_remove.c b/lib/package_remove.c
index 686a844f1..9d3a11d36 100644
--- a/lib/package_remove.c
+++ b/lib/package_remove.c
@@ -155,10 +155,6 @@ xbps_remove_pkg(struct xbps_handle *xhp, const char *pkgver, bool update)
 	if (state == XBPS_PKG_STATE_HALF_REMOVED)
 		goto purge;
 
-	/* show remove-msg if exists */
-	if ((rv = xbps_cb_message(xhp, pkgd, "remove-msg")) != 0)
-		goto out;
-
 	/* unregister alternatives */
 	if (update)
 		xbps_dictionary_set_bool(pkgd, "alternatives-update", true);
diff --git a/tests/xbps/xbps-install/behaviour_tests.sh b/tests/xbps/xbps-install/behaviour_tests.sh
index f4f8a4d99..b1a8a4bd5 100644
--- a/tests/xbps/xbps-install/behaviour_tests.sh
+++ b/tests/xbps/xbps-install/behaviour_tests.sh
@@ -175,6 +175,61 @@ reproducible_body() {
 	atf_check_equal $? 1
 }
 
+atf_test_case install_msg
+
+install_msg_head() {
+	atf_set "descr" "xbps-install(1): show install message"
+}
+
+install_msg_body() {
+	mkdir -p some_repo pkg_A
+
+	# install will now show the message
+	cat <<-EOF >pkg_A/INSTALL.msg
+	foobar-install-msg
+	EOF
+	cd some_repo
+	xbps-create -A noarch -n A-1.0_1 -s "A pkg" ../pkg_A
+	atf_check_equal $? 0
+	xbps-rindex -d -a $PWD/*.xbps
+	atf_check_equal $? 0
+	cd ..
+
+	atf_check -s exit:0 \
+		-o 'match:foobar-install-msg' \
+		-e ignore \
+		-- xbps-install -r root -C empty.conf --repository=$PWD/some_repo -y A
+
+	# update with the same message will not show the message
+	cd some_repo
+	xbps-create -A noarch -n A-1.0_2 -s "A pkg" ../pkg_A
+	atf_check_equal $? 0
+	xbps-rindex -d -a $PWD/*.xbps
+	atf_check_equal $? 0
+	cd ..
+
+	atf_check -s exit:0 \
+		-o 'not-match:foobar-install-msg' \
+		-e ignore \
+		-- xbps-install -r root -C empty.conf --repository=$PWD/some_repo -yu
+
+	# update with new message will show the message
+	cat <<-EOF >pkg_A/INSTALL.msg
+	fizzbuzz-install-msg
+	EOF
+	cd some_repo
+	xbps-create -A noarch -n A-1.1_1 -s "A pkg" ../pkg_A
+	atf_check_equal $? 0
+	xbps-rindex -d -a $PWD/*.xbps
+	atf_check_equal $? 0
+	cd ..
+
+	atf_check -s exit:0 \
+		-o 'match:fizzbuzz-install-msg' \
+		-e ignore \
+		-- xbps-install -r root -C empty.conf --repository=$PWD/some_repo -yu
+}
+
 atf_init_test_cases() {
 	atf_add_test_case install_existent
 	atf_add_test_case update_existent
@@ -182,4 +237,5 @@ atf_init_test_cases() {
 	atf_add_test_case unpacked_dep
 	atf_add_test_case reinstall_unpacked_unpack_only
 	atf_add_test_case reproducible
+	atf_add_test_case install_msg
 }
diff --git a/tests/xbps/xbps-remove/basic_test.sh b/tests/xbps/xbps-remove/basic_test.sh
index 716fb4ebe..9abcf0924 100755
--- a/tests/xbps/xbps-remove/basic_test.sh
+++ b/tests/xbps/xbps-remove/basic_test.sh
@@ -176,6 +176,34 @@ clean_cache_uninstalled_body() {
 	atf_check_equal $? 0
 }
 
+atf_test_case remove_msg
+
+remove_msg_head() {
+	atf_set "descr" "xbps-rmeove(1): show remove message"
+}
+
+remove_msg_body() {
+	mkdir -p some_repo pkg_A
+
+	cat <<-EOF >pkg_A/REMOVE.msg
+	foobar-remove-msg
+	EOF
+	cd some_repo
+	xbps-create -A noarch -n A-1.0_1 -s "A pkg" ../pkg_A
+	atf_check_equal $? 0
+	xbps-rindex -d -a $PWD/*.xbps
+	atf_check_equal $? 0
+	cd ..
+
+	xbps-install -r root -C empty.conf -R some_repo -dvy A
+	atf_check_equal $? 0
+
+	atf_check -s exit:0 \
+		-o 'match:foobar-remove-msg' \
+		-e ignore \
+		-- xbps-remove -r root -C empty.conf -y A
+}
+
 atf_init_test_cases() {
 	atf_add_test_case remove_directory
 	atf_add_test_case remove_orphans
@@ -183,4 +211,5 @@ atf_init_test_cases() {
 	atf_add_test_case clean_cache_dry_run
 	atf_add_test_case clean_cache_dry_run_perm
 	atf_add_test_case clean_cache_uninstalled
+	atf_add_test_case remove_msg
 }