diff --git a/CHANGES/3614.feature b/CHANGES/3614.feature
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..096085026
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CHANGES/3614.feature
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Honor repository's compression_type for publications unless overridden
diff --git a/pulp_rpm/app/viewsets/repository.py b/pulp_rpm/app/viewsets/repository.py
index 019eae793..a510d2ce8 100644
--- a/pulp_rpm/app/viewsets/repository.py
+++ b/pulp_rpm/app/viewsets/repository.py
@@ -565,7 +565,9 @@ def create(self, request):
             )
         repo_config = serializer.validated_data.get("repo_config", repository.repo_config)
         repo_config = gpgcheck_options if gpgcheck_options else repo_config
-        compression_type = serializer.validated_data.get("compression_type")
+        compression_type = serializer.validated_data.get(
+            "compression_type", repository.compression_type
+        )
 
         if repository.metadata_signing_service:
             signing_service_pk = repository.metadata_signing_service.pk