diff --git a/test_runner/fixtures/neon_fixtures.py b/test_runner/fixtures/neon_fixtures.py
index 2765ff916e..70d54e0895 100644
--- a/test_runner/fixtures/neon_fixtures.py
+++ b/test_runner/fixtures/neon_fixtures.py
@@ -1135,6 +1135,7 @@ class NeonEnv:
                 "listen_http_addr": f"localhost:{pageserver_port.http}",
                 "pg_auth_type": pg_auth_type,
                 "http_auth_type": http_auth_type,
+                "image_compression": "zstd",
             }
             if self.pageserver_virtual_file_io_engine is not None:
                 ps_cfg["virtual_file_io_engine"] = self.pageserver_virtual_file_io_engine