diff --git a/roles/stage-output/README.rst b/roles/stage-output/README.rst
index df746402e..8b6fb59ec 100644
--- a/roles/stage-output/README.rst
+++ b/roles/stage-output/README.rst
@@ -60,6 +60,11 @@ intended to be used before output fetching in a base job's post-playbook.
      zuul.conf --(staged as)--> zuul_conf.txt
 
 .. zuul:rolevar:: stage_compress_logs
-   :default: True
+   :default: False
 
    When True, files staged as logs will be compressed individually.
+   Note this option is deprecated as final log storage should control
+   whether or not contents are compressed. The reason for this is certain
+   services like swift may serve compressed files like .tar.gz tarballs
+   uncompressed when you want them to be compressed when served in this
+   way.
diff --git a/roles/stage-output/defaults/main.yaml b/roles/stage-output/defaults/main.yaml
index 61c8c89df..c9bf2075d 100644
--- a/roles/stage-output/defaults/main.yaml
+++ b/roles/stage-output/defaults/main.yaml
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 stage_dir: "{{ ansible_user_dir }}"
 extensions_to_txt:
-stage_compress_logs: true
+stage_compress_logs: false