diff --git a/manifests/server/backup.pp b/manifests/server/backup.pp
index bc4f925f5..07345f00e 100644
--- a/manifests/server/backup.pp
+++ b/manifests/server/backup.pp
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
 # @param backupdirgroup
 #   Group owner for the backup directory. This parameter is passed directly to the file resource.
 # @param backupcompress
-#   Whether or not to compress the backup (when using the mysqldump provider)
+#   Whether or not to compress the backup (when using the mysqldump or xtrabackup provider)
 # @param backupmethod
 #   The execution binary for backing up. ex. mysqldump, xtrabackup, mariabackup
 # @param backup_success_file_path
diff --git a/templates/xtrabackup.sh.erb b/templates/xtrabackup.sh.erb
index bc01ba9e4..c12cd07ad 100644
--- a/templates/xtrabackup.sh.erb
+++ b/templates/xtrabackup.sh.erb
@@ -43,6 +43,10 @@ cleanup
   <%- _innobackupex_args = '--user="' + @backupuser + '" --password="' + @backuppassword + '"' -%>
 <%- end -%>
 
+<%- if @backupcompress -%>
+  <%- _innobackupex_args = _innobackupex_args + ' --compress' -%>
+<%- end -%>
+
 <%- if @backupdatabases and @backupdatabases.is_a?(Array) and !@backupdatabases.empty? -%>
   <%- _innobackupex_args = _innobackupex_args + ' --databases="' + @backupdatabases.join(' ') + '"' -%>
 <%- end -%>