We report the detection of the slow-moving wind into which the compact supernova remnant SN 1997ab is expanding. Echelle spectroscopy provides clear evidence for a well-resolved narrow (full width at zero intensity, FWZI ~180 km s^-1) P Cygni profile, both in Hα and Hβ, superimposed on the broad emission lines of this compact supernova remnant. From theoretical arguments we know that the broad and strong emission lines imply a circumstellar density (n>=10^7cm^-3). This, together with our detection, implies a massive and slow stellar wind experienced by the progenitor star shortly prior to the explosion.