diff --git a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/network/21-httprequest.js b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/network/21-httprequest.js
index 4f3bf6083..87495a797 100644
--- a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/network/21-httprequest.js
+++ b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/network/21-httprequest.js
@@ -152,6 +152,8 @@ in your Node-RED user directory (${RED.settings.userDir}).
             // opts.defaultPort = isHttps?443:80;
             opts.timeout = node.reqTimeout;
             opts.throwHttpErrors = false;
+            // TODO: add UI option to auto decompress. Setting to false for 1.x compatibility
+            opts.decompress = false;
             opts.method = method;
             opts.headers = {};
             opts.retry = 0;