diff --git a/btrbk b/btrbk
index 8a46a3e..56d7192 100755
--- a/btrbk
+++ b/btrbk
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ my %config_options = (
   ssh_identity              => { default => undef,    accept_file => { absolute => 1 } },
   ssh_user                  => { default => "root",   accept_regexp => qr/^[a-z_][a-z0-9_-]*$/ },
   ssh_port                  => { default => "default", accept => [ "default" ], accept_numeric => 1 },
+  ssh_compression           => { default => "yes",    accept => [ "yes", "no" ] },
   btrfs_progs_compat        => { default => undef,    accept => [ "yes", "no" ] },
 
   # deprecated options
@@ -230,12 +231,14 @@ sub vinfo($$)
    );
 
   if($url =~ /^ssh:\/\/(\S+?)(\/\S+)$/) {
-    my ($host, $path) = ($1, $2);
-    my $ssh_port      = config_key($config, "ssh_port");
-    my $ssh_user      = config_key($config, "ssh_user");
-    my $ssh_identity  = config_key($config, "ssh_identity");
+    my ($host, $path)   = ($1, $2);
+    my $ssh_port        = config_key($config, "ssh_port");
+    my $ssh_user        = config_key($config, "ssh_user");
+    my $ssh_identity    = config_key($config, "ssh_identity");
+    my $ssh_compression = config_key($config, "ssh_compression");
     my @ssh_options;
     push(@ssh_options, '-p', $ssh_port) if($ssh_port ne "default");
+    push(@ssh_options, '-C') if($ssh_compression eq "yes");
     if($ssh_identity) {
       push(@ssh_options, '-i', $ssh_identity);
     } else {
diff --git a/doc/btrbk.conf.5 b/doc/btrbk.conf.5
index 965aaaa..9917954 100644
--- a/doc/btrbk.conf.5
+++ b/doc/btrbk.conf.5
@@ -120,6 +120,9 @@ have to make sure that the remote user is able to run /sbin/btrfs
 Port to connect to on the remote host. Defaults to \[lq]default\[rq]
 (the port specified in \fIssh_config\fR, which defaults to 22).
 .TP
+\fBssh_compression\fR  yes|no
+Enables or disables the compression of SSH (-C flag). Defaults to yes.
+.TP
 \fBbtrfs_commit_delete\fR  after|each|no
 If set, make sure the deletion of snapshot and backup subvolumes are
 committed to disk when btrbk terminates. Defaults to \[lq]no\[rq].