diff --git a/misc/mc.menu b/misc/mc.menu
index cf35412..806b13b 100644
--- a/misc/mc.menu
+++ b/misc/mc.menu
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ y       Gzip or gunzip current file
 	    *.gz) DECOMP=-d;;
 	    *.[zZ]) DECOMP=-d;;
 	esac
-        gzip $DECOMP -v %f
+        gzip -9 $DECOMP -v %f
 
 + t t
 Y       Gzip or gunzip tagged files
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ Y       Gzip or gunzip tagged files
 	    *.gz) DECOMP=-d;;
 	    *.[zZ]) DECOMP=-d;;
 	  esac
-          gzip $DECOMP -v "$i"
+          gzip -9 $DECOMP -v "$i"
         done
 
 + ! t t