diff --git a/src/config.rs b/src/config.rs
index 86d8f2bc3..762aac596 100644
--- a/src/config.rs
+++ b/src/config.rs
@@ -44,6 +44,12 @@ pub struct Config {
     /// Tx cache size in megabytes
     pub tx_cache_size: usize,
 
+    /// Enable compaction during initial sync
+    ///
+    /// By default compaction is off until initial sync is finished for performance reasons,
+    /// however, this requires much more disk space.
+    pub initial_sync_compaction: bool,
+
     #[cfg(feature = "liquid")]
     pub parent_network: BNetwork,
     #[cfg(feature = "liquid")]
@@ -412,6 +418,7 @@ impl Config {
             cors: m.value_of("cors").map(|s| s.to_string()),
             precache_scripts: m.value_of("precache_scripts").map(|s| s.to_string()),
             tx_cache_size: value_t_or_exit!(m, "tx_cache_size", usize),
+            initial_sync_compaction: m.is_present("initial_sync_compaction"),
 
             #[cfg(feature = "liquid")]
             parent_network,
diff --git a/src/new_index/db.rs b/src/new_index/db.rs
index f68da233c..77e1a66d4 100644
--- a/src/new_index/db.rs
+++ b/src/new_index/db.rs
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ impl DB {
         db_opts.set_compression_type(rocksdb::DBCompressionType::Snappy);
         db_opts.set_target_file_size_base(1_073_741_824);
         db_opts.set_write_buffer_size(256 << 20);
-        db_opts.set_disable_auto_compactions(true); // for initial bulk load
+        db_opts.set_disable_auto_compactions(!config.initial_sync_compaction); // for initial bulk load
 
         // db_opts.set_advise_random_on_open(???);
         db_opts.set_compaction_readahead_size(1 << 20);