diff --git a/packets.go b/packets.go
index d06bd7015..78d89f65d 100644
--- a/packets.go
+++ b/packets.go
@@ -196,6 +196,7 @@ func (mc *mysqlConn) readHandshakePacket() (data []byte, plugin string, err erro
 		return nil, "", ErrOldProtocol
 	}
 
+	// TODO(methane): writing to mc.cfg.XXX is bad idea. Fix it later.
 	if mc.flags&clientSSL == 0 && mc.cfg.TLS != nil {
 		if mc.cfg.AllowFallbackToPlaintext {
 			mc.cfg.TLS = nil
@@ -203,6 +204,9 @@ func (mc *mysqlConn) readHandshakePacket() (data []byte, plugin string, err erro
 			return nil, "", ErrNoTLS
 		}
 	}
+	if mc.flags&clientCompress == 0 {
+		mc.cfg.compress = false
+	}
 
 	pos += 2