diff --git a/package/madwifi/files/lib/wifi/madwifi.sh b/package/madwifi/files/lib/wifi/madwifi.sh
index 7056611f63..809780646f 100755
--- a/package/madwifi/files/lib/wifi/madwifi.sh
+++ b/package/madwifi/files/lib/wifi/madwifi.sh
@@ -232,8 +232,8 @@ enable_atheros() {
 		config_get rts "$vif" rts
 		[ -n "$rts" ] && iwconfig "$ifname" rts "${rts%%.*}"
 
-		config_get_bool comp "$vif" compression
-		[ -n "$comp" ] && iwpriv "$ifname" compression "$comp"
+		config_get_bool comp "$vif" compression 0
+		iwpriv "$ifname" compression "$comp"
 
 		config_get_bool minrate "$vif" minrate
 		[ -n "$minrate" ] && iwpriv "$ifname" minrate "$minrate"