diff --git a/src/sentry/options/defaults.py b/src/sentry/options/defaults.py
index 8af02cae3969ec..7c313f1c5e188a 100644
--- a/src/sentry/options/defaults.py
+++ b/src/sentry/options/defaults.py
@@ -2864,7 +2864,7 @@
 register(
     "spans.buffer.compression.level",
     type=Int,
-    default=-1,
+    default=0,
     flags=FLAG_PRIORITIZE_DISK | FLAG_AUTOMATOR_MODIFIABLE,
 )