diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index dd1eefa..7421e69 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -63,7 +63,8 @@ giving:
 
     usage: brother_ql_create [-h] [--model MODEL] [--label-size LABEL_SIZE]
                              [--rotate {0,90,180,270}] [--threshold THRESHOLD]
-                             [--dither] [--no-cut] [--loglevel LOGLEVEL]
+                             [--dither] [--compress] [--no-cut]
+                             [--loglevel LOGLEVEL]
                              image [outfile]
     
     positional arguments:
@@ -87,6 +88,8 @@ giving:
                             between black and white pixels.
       --dither, -d          Enable dithering when converting the image to b/w. If
                             set, --threshold is meaningless.
+      --compress, -c        Enable compression (if available with the model).
+                            Takes more time but results in smaller file size.
       --no-cut              Don't cut the tape after printing the label.
       --loglevel LOGLEVEL   Set to DEBUG for verbose debugging output to stderr.
 
diff --git a/brother_ql/brother_ql_create.py b/brother_ql/brother_ql_create.py
index 6a643b2..0104f88 100755
--- a/brother_ql/brother_ql_create.py
+++ b/brother_ql/brother_ql_create.py
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ def main():
     parser.add_argument('--rotate', '-r', choices=('0', '90', '180', '270'), default='auto', help='Rotate the image (counterclock-wise) by this amount of degrees.')
     parser.add_argument('--threshold', '-t', type=float, default=70.0, help='The threshold value (in percent) to discriminate between black and white pixels.')
     parser.add_argument('--dither', '-d', action='store_true', help='Enable dithering when converting the image to b/w. If set, --threshold is meaningless.')
+    parser.add_argument('--compress', '-c', action='store_true', help='Enable compression (if available with the model). Takes more time but results in smaller file size.')
     parser.add_argument('--no-cut', dest='cut', action='store_false', help="Don't cut the tape after printing the label.")
     parser.add_argument('--loglevel', type=lambda x: getattr(logging, x), default=logging.WARNING, help='Set to DEBUG for verbose debugging output to stderr.')
     args = parser.parse_args()
@@ -53,11 +54,11 @@ def main():
 
     qlr.exception_on_warning = True
 
-    create_label(qlr, args.image, args.label_size, threshold=args.threshold, cut=args.cut, rotate=args.rotate, dither=args.dither)
+    create_label(qlr, args.image, args.label_size, threshold=args.threshold, cut=args.cut, rotate=args.rotate, dither=args.dither, compress=args.compress)
 
     args.outfile.write(qlr.data)
 
-def create_label(qlr, image, label_size, threshold=70, cut=True, dither=False, **kwargs):
+def create_label(qlr, image, label_size, threshold=70, cut=True, dither=False, compress=False, **kwargs):
 
     label_specs = label_type_specs[label_size]
     dots_printable = label_specs['dots_printable']
@@ -146,7 +147,7 @@ def create_label(qlr, image, label_size, threshold=70, cut=True, dither=False, *
         pass
     qlr.add_margins(label_specs['feed_margin'])
     try:
-        qlr.add_compression(True)
+        if compress: qlr.add_compression(True)
     except BrotherQLUnsupportedCmd:
         pass
     qlr.add_raster_data(im)