diff --git a/CHANGES b/CHANGES
index 14d2b9f..526b807 100644
--- a/CHANGES
+++ b/CHANGES
@@ -93,6 +93,10 @@ new features:
 
 	Till Maas added support for tun/tap addresses without IP address
  
+	added an option openssl-compress that allows to disable the compression
+	feature of newer OpenSSL versions. Thanks to Michael Hanselmann for
+	providing this contribution (sponsored by Google Inc.)
+
 ####################### V 1.7.1.3:
 
 security:
diff --git a/doc/socat.yo b/doc/socat.yo
index 41daa68..c191edc 100644
--- a/doc/socat.yo
+++ b/doc/socat.yo
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ def(Filan)(0)(bf(Filan))
 def(procan)(0)(bf(procan))
 def(Procan)(0)(bf(Procan))
 
-manpage(socat)(1)(Jan 2010)()()
+manpage(socat)(1)(Oct 2010)()()
 
 whenhtml(
 label(CONTENTS)
@@ -2665,6 +2665,13 @@ label(OPTION_OPENSSL_FIPS)dit(bf(tt(fips)))
    This mode might require that the involved certificates are generated with a
    FIPS enabled version of openssl. Setting or clearing this option on one
    socat address affects all OpenSSL addresses of this process.
+label(OPTION_OPENSSL_COMPRESS)dit(bf(tt(compress)))
+   Enable or disable the use of compression for a connection. Setting this to
+   "none" disables compression, setting it to "auto" lets OpenSSL choose the best
+   available algorithm supported by both parties. The default is to not touch any
+   compression-related settings.
+   NOTE: Requires OpenSSL 0.9.8 or higher and disabling compression with
+   OpenSSL 0.9.8 affects all new connections in the process.
 enddit()
 
 startdit()enddit()nl()
diff --git a/doc/xio.help b/doc/xio.help
index a767b42..3a6eb8d 100644
--- a/doc/xio.help
+++ b/doc/xio.help
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # source: xio.help
-# Copyright Gerhard Rieger 2001-2007
+# Copyright Gerhard Rieger 2001-2010
 
 Operating systems:
 
@@ -4610,6 +4610,23 @@ FIPS enabled version of openssl. Setting or clearing this option on one
 socat address affects all OpenSSL addresses of this process.
 
 
+Option: openssl-compress
+Aliases: compress
+
+Type: STRING
+Option group: OPENSSL
+Phase: SPEC
+Platforms: (depends on openssl installation)
+
+Enable or disable the use of compression for a connection. Setting this to
+"none" disables compression, setting it to "auto" lets OpenSSL choose the best
+available algorithm supported by both parties. The default is to not touch any
+compression-related settings.
+NOTE: Requires OpenSSL 0.9.8 or higher.
+NOTE: Disabling compression with OpenSSL 0.9.8 affects all new connections in
+the same process.
+
+
 ===============================================================================
 Application specific address options
 
diff --git a/sslcls.c b/sslcls.c
index 4641044..d6ae006 100644
--- a/sslcls.c
+++ b/sslcls.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /* source: sslcls.c */
-/* Copyright Gerhard Rieger 2001-2007 */
+/* Copyright Gerhard Rieger 2001-2010 */
 /* Published under the GNU General Public License V.2, see file COPYING */
 
 /* explicit system call and C library trace function, for those who miss strace
@@ -315,4 +315,42 @@ int sycFIPS_mode_set(int onoff) {
 }
 #endif /* WITH_FIPS */
 
+#if OPENSSL_VERSION_NUMBER >= 0x00908000L
+const COMP_METHOD *sycSSL_get_current_compression(SSL *ssl) {
+   const COMP_METHOD *result;
+   Debug1("SSL_get_current_compression(%p)", ssl);
+   result = SSL_get_current_compression(ssl);
+   if (result) {
+      Debug1("SSL_get_current_compression() -> %p", result);
+   } else {
+      Debug("SSL_get_current_compression() -> NULL");
+   }
+   return result;
+}
+
+const COMP_METHOD *sycSSL_get_current_expansion(SSL *ssl) {
+   const COMP_METHOD *result;
+   Debug1("SSL_get_current_expansion(%p)", ssl);
+   result = SSL_get_current_expansion(ssl);
+   if (result) {
+      Debug1("SSL_get_current_expansion() -> %p", result);
+   } else {
+      Debug("SSL_get_current_expansion() -> NULL");
+   }
+   return result;
+}
+
+const char *sycSSL_COMP_get_name(const COMP_METHOD *comp) {
+   const char *result;
+   Debug1("SSL_COMP_get_name(%p)", comp);
+   result = SSL_COMP_get_name(comp);
+   if (result) {
+      Debug1("SSL_COMP_get_name() -> \"%s\"", result);
+   } else {
+      Debug("SSL_COMP_get_name() -> NULL");
+   }
+   return result;
+}
+#endif
+
 #endif /* WITH_SYCLS && WITH_OPENSSL */
diff --git a/sslcls.h b/sslcls.h
index ab2e52a..0ae00c4 100644
--- a/sslcls.h
+++ b/sslcls.h
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /* source: sslcls.h */
-/* Copyright Gerhard Rieger 2001-2007 */
+/* Copyright Gerhard Rieger 2001-2010 */
 /* Published under the GNU General Public License V.2, see file COPYING */
 
 #ifndef __sslcls_h_included
@@ -49,6 +49,12 @@ BIO *sycBIO_new_file(const char *filename, const char *mode);
 
 int sycFIPS_mode_set(int onoff);
 
+#if OPENSSL_VERSION_NUMBER >= 0x00908000L
+const COMP_METHOD *sycSSL_get_current_compression(SSL *ssl);
+const COMP_METHOD *sycSSL_get_current_expansion(SSL *ssl);
+const char *sycSSL_COMP_get_name(const COMP_METHOD *comp);
+#endif
+
 #endif /* WITH_OPENSSL */
 
 #else /* !WITH_SYCLS */
@@ -92,6 +98,10 @@ int sycFIPS_mode_set(int onoff);
 
 #define sycBIO_new_file(f,m) BIO_new_file(f,m)
 
+#define sycSSL_get_current_compression(s) SSL_get_current_compression(s)
+#define sycSSL_get_current_expansion(s) SSL_get_current_expansion(s)
+#define sycSSL_COMP_get_name(c) SSL_COMP_get_name(c)
+
 #endif /* WITH_OPENSSL */
 
 #define sycFIPS_mode_set(o) FIPS_mode_set(o)
diff --git a/test.sh b/test.sh
index a89743d..dd9c02e 100755
--- a/test.sh
+++ b/test.sh
@@ -476,6 +476,9 @@ filloptionvalues() {
     case "$OPTS" in
     *,egd,*) OPTS=$(echo "$OPTS" |sed "s/,egd,/,egd=/tmp/hugo,/g");;
     esac
+    case "$OPTS" in
+    *,compress,*) OPTS=$(echo "$OPTS" |sed "s/,compress,/,compress=none,/g");;
+    esac
     # PROXY
     case "$OPTS" in
     *,proxyauth,*) OPTS=$(echo "$OPTS" |sed "s/,proxyauth,/,proxyauth=user:pass,/g");;
@@ -3981,6 +3984,62 @@ PORT=$((PORT+1))
 N=$((N+1))
 
 
+NAME=OPENSSL_COMPRESS
+case "$TESTS" in
+*%functions%*|*%openssl%*|*%tcp%*|*%tcp4%*|*%ip4%*|*%$NAME%*)
+TEST="$NAME: OpenSSL compression"
+if ! eval $NUMCOND; then :;
+elif ! testaddrs openssl >/dev/null; then
+    $PRINTF "test $F_n $TEST... ${YELLOW}OPENSSL not available${NORMAL}\n" $N
+    numCANT=$((numCANT+1))
+elif ! testaddrs listen tcp ip4 >/dev/null || ! runsip4 >/dev/null; then
+    $PRINTF "test $F_n $TEST... ${YELLOW}TCP/IPv4 not available${NORMAL}\n" $N
+    numCANT=$((numCANT+1))
+elif ! testoptions openssl-compress >/dev/null; then
+    $PRINTF "test $F_n $TEST... ${YELLOW}OPENSSL compression option not available${NORMAL}\n" $N
+    numCANT=$((numCANT+1))
+else
+    gentestcert testsrv
+    printf "test $F_n $TEST... " $N
+    tf="$td/test$N.stdout"
+    te="$td/test$N.stderr"
+    tdiff="$td/test$N.diff"
+    da="test$N $(date) $RANDOM"
+    success=yes
+    for srccompr in '' compress=auto compress=none; do
+        for dstcompr in '' compress=auto compress=none; do
+            CMD2="$SOCAT $opts OPENSSL-LISTEN:$PORT,pf=ip4,reuseaddr,$SOCAT_EGD,cert=testsrv.crt,key=testsrv.key,verify=0,$dstcompr pipe"
+            CMD="$SOCAT $opts - openssl:$LOCALHOST:$PORT,pf=ip4,verify=0,$SOCAT_EGD,$srccompr"
+            eval "$CMD2 2>\"${te}1\" &"
+            pid=$! # background process id
+            waittcp4port $PORT
+            echo "$da" | $CMD >$tf 2>"${te}2"
+            kill $pid 2>/dev/null
+            if ! echo "$da" |diff - "$tf" >"$tdiff"; then
+                success=
+                break
+            fi
+        done
+    done
+    if test -z "$success"; then
+        $PRINTF "$FAILED: $SOCAT:\n"
+        echo "$CMD2 &"
+        echo "$CMD"
+        cat "${te}1"
+        cat "${te}2"
+        cat "$tdiff"
+        numFAIL=$((numFAIL+1))
+    else
+        $PRINTF "$OK\n"
+        if [ -n "$debug" ]; then cat "${te}1" "${te}2"; fi
+        numOK=$((numOK+1))
+    fi
+fi ;; # NUMCOND, feats
+esac
+PORT=$((PORT+1))
+N=$((N+1))
+
+
 NAME=SOCKS4CONNECT_TCP4
 case "$TESTS" in
 *%functions%*|*%socks%*|*%socks4%*|*%tcp%*|*%tcp4%*|*%ip4%*|*%$NAME%*)
diff --git a/xio-openssl.c b/xio-openssl.c
index 51a4287..19f3f33 100644
--- a/xio-openssl.c
+++ b/xio-openssl.c
@@ -104,6 +104,9 @@ const struct optdesc opt_openssl_cafile      = { "openssl-cafile",     "cafile",
 const struct optdesc opt_openssl_capath      = { "openssl-capath",     "capath", OPT_OPENSSL_CAPATH,      GROUP_OPENSSL, PH_SPEC, TYPE_FILENAME, OFUNC_SPEC };
 const struct optdesc opt_openssl_egd         = { "openssl-egd",        "egd",    OPT_OPENSSL_EGD,         GROUP_OPENSSL, PH_SPEC, TYPE_FILENAME, OFUNC_SPEC };
 const struct optdesc opt_openssl_pseudo      = { "openssl-pseudo",     "pseudo", OPT_OPENSSL_PSEUDO,      GROUP_OPENSSL, PH_SPEC, TYPE_BOOL,     OFUNC_SPEC };
+#if OPENSSL_VERSION_NUMBER >= 0x00908000L
+const struct optdesc opt_openssl_compress    = { "openssl-compress",   "compress", OPT_OPENSSL_COMPRESS,  GROUP_OPENSSL, PH_SPEC, TYPE_STRING,   OFUNC_SPEC };
+#endif
 #if WITH_FIPS
 const struct optdesc opt_openssl_fips        = { "openssl-fips",       "fips",   OPT_OPENSSL_FIPS,        GROUP_OPENSSL, PH_SPEC, TYPE_BOOL,     OFUNC_SPEC };
 #endif
@@ -134,6 +137,24 @@ int xio_reset_fips_mode(void) {
 #define xio_reset_fips_mode() 0
 #endif
 
+static void openssl_conn_loginfo(SSL *ssl) {
+   Notice1("SSL connection using %s", SSL_get_cipher(ssl));
+
+#if OPENSSL_VERSION_NUMBER >= 0x00908000L
+   {
+      const COMP_METHOD *comp, *expansion;
+
+      comp = sycSSL_get_current_compression(ssl);
+      expansion = sycSSL_get_current_expansion(ssl);
+
+      Notice1("SSL connection compression \"%s\"",
+              comp?sycSSL_COMP_get_name(comp):"none");
+      Notice1("SSL connection expansion \"%s\"",
+              expansion?sycSSL_COMP_get_name(expansion):"none");
+   }
+#endif
+}
+
 /* the open function for OpenSSL client */
 static int
    xioopen_openssl_connect(int argc,
@@ -304,7 +325,7 @@ static int
       break;
    } while (true);	/* drop out on success */
 
-   Notice1("SSL connection using %s", SSL_get_cipher(xfd->para.openssl.ssl));
+   openssl_conn_loginfo(xfd->para.openssl.ssl);
 
    /* fill in the fd structure */
    return STAT_OK;
@@ -501,8 +522,7 @@ static int
 	 return result;
       }
 
-      Notice1("SSL connection using %s",
-	      SSL_get_cipher(xfd->para.openssl.ssl));
+      openssl_conn_loginfo(xfd->para.openssl.ssl);
       break;
 
    }	/* drop out on success */
@@ -606,6 +626,59 @@ int _xioopen_openssl_listen(struct single *xfd,
 #endif /* WITH_LISTEN */
 
 
+#if OPENSSL_VERSION_NUMBER >= 0x00908000L
+/* In OpenSSL 0.9.7 compression methods could be added using
+ * SSL_COMP_add_compression_method(3), but the implemntation is not compatible
+ * with the standard (RFC3749).
+ */
+static int openssl_setup_compression(SSL_CTX *ctx, char *method)
+{
+   STACK_OF(SSL_COMP)* comp_methods;
+
+   assert(method);
+
+   /* Getting the stack of compression methods has the intended side-effect of
+    * initializing the SSL library's compression part.
+    */
+   comp_methods = SSL_COMP_get_compression_methods();
+   if (!comp_methods) {
+      Info("OpenSSL built without compression support");
+      return STAT_OK;
+   }
+
+   if (strcasecmp(method, "auto") == 0) {
+      Info("Using default OpenSSL compression");
+      return STAT_OK;
+   }
+
+   if (strcasecmp(method, "none") == 0) {
+      /* Disable compression */
+#ifdef SSL_OP_NO_COMPRESSION
+      Info("Disabling OpenSSL compression");
+      SSL_CTX_set_options(ctx, SSL_OP_NO_COMPRESSION);
+#else
+      /* SSL_OP_NO_COMPRESSION was only introduced in OpenSSL 0.9.9 (released
+       * as 1.0.0). Removing all compression methods is a work-around for
+       * earlier versions of OpenSSL, but it affects all SSL connections.
+       */
+      Info("Disabling OpenSSL compression globally");
+      sk_SSL_COMP_zero(comp_methods);
+#endif
+      return STAT_OK;
+   }
+
+   /* zlib compression in OpenSSL before version 0.9.8e-beta1 uses the libc's
+    * default malloc/free instead of the ones passed to OpenSSL. Should socat
+    * ever use custom malloc/free functions for OpenSSL, this must be taken
+    * into consideration. See OpenSSL bug #1468.
+    */
+
+   Error1("openssl-compress=\"%s\": unknown compression method", method);
+   return STAT_NORETRY;
+}
+#endif
+
+
 int
    _xioopen_openssl_prepare(struct opt *opts,
 			    struct single *xfd,/* a xio file descriptor
@@ -625,6 +698,9 @@ int
    char *opt_cafile = NULL;	/* certificate authority file */
    char *opt_capath = NULL;	/* certificate authority directory */
    char *opt_egd = NULL;	/* entropy gathering daemon socket path */
+#if OPENSSL_VERSION_NUMBER >= 0x00908000L
+   char *opt_compress = NULL;	/* compression method */
+#endif
    bool opt_pseudo = false;	/* use pseudo entropy if nothing else */
    unsigned long err;
    int result;
@@ -642,6 +718,9 @@ int
    retropt_string(opts, OPT_OPENSSL_DHPARAM, &opt_dhparam);
    retropt_string(opts, OPT_OPENSSL_EGD, &opt_egd);
    retropt_bool(opts,OPT_OPENSSL_PSEUDO, &opt_pseudo);
+#if OPENSSL_VERSION_NUMBER >= 0x00908000L
+   retropt_string(opts, OPT_OPENSSL_COMPRESS, &opt_compress);
+#endif
 
 #if WITH_FIPS
    if (opt_fips) {
@@ -783,6 +862,16 @@ int
       }
    }
 
+#if OPENSSL_VERSION_NUMBER >= 0x00908000L
+   if (opt_compress) {
+      int result;
+      result = openssl_setup_compression(*ctx, opt_compress);
+      if (result != STAT_OK) {
+	return result;
+      }
+   }
+#endif
+
    if (opt_cafile != NULL || opt_capath != NULL) {
       if (sycSSL_CTX_load_verify_locations(*ctx, opt_cafile, opt_capath) != 1) {
 	 int result;
diff --git a/xio-openssl.h b/xio-openssl.h
index f3a0a58..d7be69d 100644
--- a/xio-openssl.h
+++ b/xio-openssl.h
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /* source: xio-openssl.h */
-/* Copyright Gerhard Rieger 2002-2007 */
+/* Copyright Gerhard Rieger 2002-2010 */
 /* Published under the GNU General Public License V.2, see file COPYING */
 
 #ifndef __xio_openssl_included
@@ -23,6 +23,9 @@ extern const struct optdesc opt_openssl_cafile;
 extern const struct optdesc opt_openssl_capath;
 extern const struct optdesc opt_openssl_egd;
 extern const struct optdesc opt_openssl_pseudo;
+#if OPENSSL_VERSION_NUMBER >= 0x00908000L
+extern const struct optdesc opt_openssl_compress;
+#endif
 #if WITH_FIPS
 extern const struct optdesc opt_openssl_fips;
 #endif
diff --git a/xioopts.c b/xioopts.c
index 08d1adb..ddd0fe8 100644
--- a/xioopts.c
+++ b/xioopts.c
@@ -293,6 +293,9 @@ const struct optname optionnames[] = {
 #if WITH_EXT2 && defined(EXT2_COMPR_FL)
 	IF_ANY    ("compr",	&opt_ext2_compr)
 #endif
+#if OPENSSL_VERSION_NUMBER >= 0x00908000L
+	IF_OPENSSL("compress",	&opt_openssl_compress)
+#endif
 #ifdef TCP_CONN_ABORT_THRESHOLD  /* HP_UX */
 	IF_TCP    ("conn-abort-threshold",	&opt_tcp_conn_abort_threshold)
 #endif
@@ -1085,6 +1088,9 @@ const struct optname optionnames[] = {
 	IF_OPENSSL("openssl-capath",	&opt_openssl_capath)
 	IF_OPENSSL("openssl-certificate",	&opt_openssl_certificate)
 	IF_OPENSSL("openssl-cipherlist",	&opt_openssl_cipherlist)
+#if OPENSSL_VERSION_NUMBER >= 0x00908000L
+	IF_OPENSSL("openssl-compress",	&opt_openssl_compress)
+#endif
 	IF_OPENSSL("openssl-dhparam",	&opt_openssl_dhparam)
 	IF_OPENSSL("openssl-egd",	&opt_openssl_egd)
 #if WITH_FIPS
diff --git a/xioopts.h b/xioopts.h
index f91003b..f6dd5b6 100644
--- a/xioopts.h
+++ b/xioopts.h
@@ -473,6 +473,9 @@ enum e_optcode {
    OPT_OPENSSL_CAPATH,
    OPT_OPENSSL_CERTIFICATE,
    OPT_OPENSSL_CIPHERLIST,
+#if OPENSSL_VERSION_NUMBER >= 0x00908000L
+   OPT_OPENSSL_COMPRESS,
+#endif
    OPT_OPENSSL_DHPARAM,
    OPT_OPENSSL_EGD,
    OPT_OPENSSL_FIPS,