diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 2ea8dd9..73beebe 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -75,15 +75,11 @@ pkg-debug:
 	@: $${L} $${T}
 	$(MAKE_QUIETLY) pkg-build L=$(L) T=$(T) CMD=bash
 
-ifneq (,$(Z))
-NO_COMPRESS :=
-else
-NO_COMPRESS := -Znone
-endif
+Z ?= none
 
 pkg-deb:
 	@: $${L} $${T}
-	fakeroot dpkg-deb --build $(NO_COMPRESS) $(BUILD)/pkg $(BUILD)/$(DEB)
+	fakeroot dpkg-deb --build -Z$(Z) $(BUILD)/pkg $(BUILD)/$(DEB)
 
 pkg: pkg-clean pkg-build pkg-deb
 
diff --git a/tools/ci-run.bash b/tools/ci-run.bash
index 10f7e5c..195412f 100755
--- a/tools/ci-run.bash
+++ b/tools/ci-run.bash
@@ -5,4 +5,4 @@ set -euo pipefail
 echo "${DOCKER_PASSWORD}" | sudo -E docker login --username "${DOCKER_USERNAME}" --password-stdin
 
 make system
-make publish Z=1 CI=1 TEST_PATIENCE=4 TEST_CONCURRENCY=1
+make publish Z=xz CI=1 TEST_PATIENCE=4 TEST_CONCURRENCY=1