diff --git a/docs/src/config-file.md b/docs/src/config-file.md
index 542677de1..3efc08bd8 100644
--- a/docs/src/config-file.md
+++ b/docs/src/config-file.md
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ worker_processes: 8
 # Amount of memory (in MB) to use for caching tiles [default: 512, 0 to disable]
 cache_size_mb: 1024
 
+# If the client accepts multiple compression formats, and the tile source is not pre-compressed, which compression should be used. `gzip` is faster, but `brotli` is smaller, and may be faster with caching.  Defaults to brotli.
+preferred_encoding: gzip
+
 # Database configuration. This can also be a list of PG configs.
 postgres:
   # Database connection string. You can use env vars too, for example:
diff --git a/docs/src/run-with-cli.md b/docs/src/run-with-cli.md
index fd921c138..b52935580 100644
--- a/docs/src/run-with-cli.md
+++ b/docs/src/run-with-cli.md
@@ -31,6 +31,11 @@ Options:
   -W, --workers <WORKERS>
           Number of web server workers
 
+      --preferred-encoding <PREFERRED_ENCODING>
+          Martin server preferred tile encoding. If the client accepts multiple compression formats, and the tile source is not pre-compressed, which compression should be used. `gzip` is faster, but `brotli` is smaller, and may be faster with caching.  Defaults to brotli
+          
+          [possible values: brotli, gzip]
+          
   -b, --auto-bounds <AUTO_BOUNDS>
           Specify how bounds should be computed for the spatial PG tables. [DEFAULT: quick]
 
diff --git a/martin/benches/bench.rs b/martin/benches/bench.rs
index 27f4904b2..ceb4a6946 100644
--- a/martin/benches/bench.rs
+++ b/martin/benches/bench.rs
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ impl Source for NullSource {
 }
 
 async fn process_tile(sources: &TileSources) {
-    let src = DynTileSource::new(sources, "null", Some(0), "", None, None).unwrap();
+    let src = DynTileSource::new(sources, "null", Some(0), "", None, None, None).unwrap();
     src.get_http_response(TileCoord { z: 0, x: 0, y: 0 })
         .await
         .unwrap();
diff --git a/martin/src/args/mod.rs b/martin/src/args/mod.rs
index f3bb5e81e..0e58bd7ab 100644
--- a/martin/src/args/mod.rs
+++ b/martin/src/args/mod.rs
@@ -13,4 +13,5 @@ mod root;
 pub use root::{Args, ExtraArgs, MetaArgs};
 
 mod srv;
+pub use srv::PreferredEncoding;
 pub use srv::SrvArgs;
diff --git a/martin/src/args/root.rs b/martin/src/args/root.rs
index 7fc81d1be..7bcda8103 100644
--- a/martin/src/args/root.rs
+++ b/martin/src/args/root.rs
@@ -160,7 +160,9 @@ pub fn parse_file_args<T: crate::file_config::ConfigExtras>(
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
+
     use super::*;
+    use crate::args::PreferredEncoding;
     use crate::test_utils::FauxEnv;
     use crate::MartinError::UnrecognizableConnections;
 
@@ -215,6 +217,28 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(args, (cfg, meta));
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn cli_encoding_arguments() {
+        let config1 = parse(&["martin", "--preferred-encoding", "brotli"]);
+        let config2 = parse(&["martin", "--preferred-encoding", "br"]);
+        let config3 = parse(&["martin", "--preferred-encoding", "gzip"]);
+        let config4 = parse(&["martin"]);
+
+        assert_eq!(
+            config1.unwrap().0.srv.preferred_encoding,
+            Some(PreferredEncoding::Brotli)
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            config2.unwrap().0.srv.preferred_encoding,
+            Some(PreferredEncoding::Brotli)
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            config3.unwrap().0.srv.preferred_encoding,
+            Some(PreferredEncoding::Gzip)
+        );
+        assert_eq!(config4.unwrap().0.srv.preferred_encoding, None);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn cli_bad_arguments() {
         for params in [
diff --git a/martin/src/args/srv.rs b/martin/src/args/srv.rs
index b436151b3..e7b743583 100644
--- a/martin/src/args/srv.rs
+++ b/martin/src/args/srv.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 use crate::srv::{SrvConfig, KEEP_ALIVE_DEFAULT, LISTEN_ADDRESSES_DEFAULT};
+use clap::ValueEnum;
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
 #[derive(clap::Args, Debug, PartialEq, Default)]
 #[command(about, version)]
@@ -10,6 +12,19 @@ pub struct SrvArgs {
     /// Number of web server workers
     #[arg(short = 'W', long)]
     pub workers: Option<usize>,
+    /// Martin server preferred tile encoding. If the client accepts multiple compression formats, and the tile source is not pre-compressed, which compression should be used. `gzip` is faster, but `brotli` is smaller, and may be faster with caching.  Defaults to brotli.
+    #[arg(long)]
+    pub preferred_encoding: Option<PreferredEncoding>,
+}
+
+#[derive(PartialEq, Eq, Default, Debug, Clone, Copy, Serialize, Deserialize, ValueEnum)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "lowercase")]
+pub enum PreferredEncoding {
+    #[default]
+    #[serde(alias = "br")]
+    #[clap(alias("br"))]
+    Brotli,
+    Gzip,
 }
 
 impl SrvArgs {
@@ -24,5 +39,8 @@ impl SrvArgs {
         if self.workers.is_some() {
             srv_config.worker_processes = self.workers;
         }
+        if self.preferred_encoding.is_some() {
+            srv_config.preferred_encoding = self.preferred_encoding;
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/martin/src/bin/martin-cp.rs b/martin/src/bin/martin-cp.rs
index 35c75d6ce..ecb3a291f 100644
--- a/martin/src/bin/martin-cp.rs
+++ b/martin/src/bin/martin-cp.rs
@@ -283,6 +283,7 @@ async fn run_tile_copy(args: CopyArgs, state: ServerState) -> MartinCpResult<()>
         args.url_query.as_deref().unwrap_or_default(),
         Some(parse_encoding(args.encoding.as_str())?),
         None,
+        None,
     )?;
     // parallel async below uses move, so we must only use copyable types
     let src = &src;
diff --git a/martin/src/srv/config.rs b/martin/src/srv/config.rs
index 0db8db587..bef288160 100644
--- a/martin/src/srv/config.rs
+++ b/martin/src/srv/config.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
+use crate::args::PreferredEncoding;
+
 pub const KEEP_ALIVE_DEFAULT: u64 = 75;
 pub const LISTEN_ADDRESSES_DEFAULT: &str = "0.0.0.0:3000";
 
@@ -9,6 +11,7 @@ pub struct SrvConfig {
     pub keep_alive: Option<u64>,
     pub listen_addresses: Option<String>,
     pub worker_processes: Option<usize>,
+    pub preferred_encoding: Option<PreferredEncoding>,
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
@@ -19,18 +22,49 @@ mod tests {
     use crate::test_utils::some;
 
     #[test]
-    fn parse_empty_config() {
+    fn parse_config() {
+        assert_eq!(
+            serde_yaml::from_str::<SrvConfig>(indoc! {"
+                keep_alive: 75
+                listen_addresses: '0.0.0.0:3000'
+                worker_processes: 8
+            "})
+            .unwrap(),
+            SrvConfig {
+                keep_alive: Some(75),
+                listen_addresses: some("0.0.0.0:3000"),
+                worker_processes: Some(8),
+                preferred_encoding: None,
+            }
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            serde_yaml::from_str::<SrvConfig>(indoc! {"
+                keep_alive: 75
+                listen_addresses: '0.0.0.0:3000'
+                worker_processes: 8
+                preferred_encoding: br
+            "})
+            .unwrap(),
+            SrvConfig {
+                keep_alive: Some(75),
+                listen_addresses: some("0.0.0.0:3000"),
+                worker_processes: Some(8),
+                preferred_encoding: Some(PreferredEncoding::Brotli),
+            }
+        );
         assert_eq!(
             serde_yaml::from_str::<SrvConfig>(indoc! {"
                 keep_alive: 75
                 listen_addresses: '0.0.0.0:3000'
                 worker_processes: 8
+                preferred_encoding: brotli
             "})
             .unwrap(),
             SrvConfig {
                 keep_alive: Some(75),
                 listen_addresses: some("0.0.0.0:3000"),
                 worker_processes: Some(8),
+                preferred_encoding: Some(PreferredEncoding::Brotli),
             }
         );
     }
diff --git a/martin/src/srv/server.rs b/martin/src/srv/server.rs
index b0c1caa16..c187662e7 100755
--- a/martin/src/srv/server.rs
+++ b/martin/src/srv/server.rs
@@ -108,6 +108,13 @@ type Server = Pin<Box<dyn Future<Output = MartinResult<()>>>>;
 pub fn new_server(config: SrvConfig, state: ServerState) -> MartinResult<(Server, String)> {
     let catalog = Catalog::new(&state)?;
 
+    let keep_alive = Duration::from_secs(config.keep_alive.unwrap_or(KEEP_ALIVE_DEFAULT));
+    let worker_processes = config.worker_processes.unwrap_or_else(num_cpus::get);
+    let listen_addresses = config
+        .listen_addresses
+        .clone()
+        .unwrap_or_else(|| LISTEN_ADDRESSES_DEFAULT.to_owned());
+
     let factory = move || {
         let cors_middleware = Cors::default()
             .allow_any_origin()
@@ -124,6 +131,7 @@ pub fn new_server(config: SrvConfig, state: ServerState) -> MartinResult<(Server
         let app = app.app_data(Data::new(state.fonts.clone()));
 
         app.app_data(Data::new(catalog.clone()))
+            .app_data(Data::new(config.clone()))
             .wrap(cors_middleware)
             .wrap(middleware::NormalizePath::new(TrailingSlash::MergeOnly))
             .wrap(middleware::Logger::default())
@@ -136,12 +144,6 @@ pub fn new_server(config: SrvConfig, state: ServerState) -> MartinResult<(Server
         return Ok((Box::pin(server), "(aws lambda)".into()));
     }
 
-    let keep_alive = Duration::from_secs(config.keep_alive.unwrap_or(KEEP_ALIVE_DEFAULT));
-    let worker_processes = config.worker_processes.unwrap_or_else(num_cpus::get);
-    let listen_addresses = config
-        .listen_addresses
-        .unwrap_or_else(|| LISTEN_ADDRESSES_DEFAULT.to_owned());
-
     let server = HttpServer::new(factory)
         .bind(listen_addresses.clone())
         .map_err(|e| BindingError(e, listen_addresses.clone()))?
diff --git a/martin/src/srv/tiles.rs b/martin/src/srv/tiles.rs
index f25829966..c5195b87c 100755
--- a/martin/src/srv/tiles.rs
+++ b/martin/src/srv/tiles.rs
@@ -10,8 +10,10 @@ use log::trace;
 use martin_tile_utils::{Encoding, Format, TileInfo};
 use serde::Deserialize;
 
+use crate::args::PreferredEncoding;
 use crate::source::{Source, TileSources, UrlQuery};
 use crate::srv::server::map_internal_error;
+use crate::srv::SrvConfig;
 use crate::utils::cache::get_or_insert_cached_value;
 use crate::utils::{
     decode_brotli, decode_gzip, encode_brotli, encode_gzip, CacheKey, CacheValue, MainCache,
@@ -19,12 +21,18 @@ use crate::utils::{
 };
 use crate::{Tile, TileCoord, TileData};
 
-static SUPPORTED_ENCODINGS: &[HeaderEnc] = &[
+static PREFER_BROTLI_ENC: &[HeaderEnc] = &[
     HeaderEnc::brotli(),
     HeaderEnc::gzip(),
     HeaderEnc::identity(),
 ];
 
+static PREFER_GZIP_ENC: &[HeaderEnc] = &[
+    HeaderEnc::gzip(),
+    HeaderEnc::brotli(),
+    HeaderEnc::identity(),
+];
+
 #[derive(Deserialize, Clone)]
 pub struct TileRequest {
     source_ids: String,
@@ -36,6 +44,7 @@ pub struct TileRequest {
 #[route("/{source_ids}/{z}/{x}/{y}", method = "GET", method = "HEAD")]
 async fn get_tile(
     req: HttpRequest,
+    srv_config: Data<SrvConfig>,
     path: Path<TileRequest>,
     sources: Data<TileSources>,
     cache: Data<OptMainCache>,
@@ -46,6 +55,7 @@ async fn get_tile(
         Some(path.z),
         req.query_string(),
         req.get_header::<AcceptEncoding>(),
+        srv_config.preferred_encoding,
         cache.as_ref().as_ref(),
     )?;
 
@@ -62,7 +72,8 @@ pub struct DynTileSource<'a> {
     pub info: TileInfo,
     pub query_str: Option<&'a str>,
     pub query_obj: Option<UrlQuery>,
-    pub encodings: Option<AcceptEncoding>,
+    pub accept_enc: Option<AcceptEncoding>,
+    pub preferred_enc: Option<PreferredEncoding>,
     pub cache: Option<&'a MainCache>,
 }
 
@@ -72,7 +83,8 @@ impl<'a> DynTileSource<'a> {
         source_ids: &str,
         zoom: Option<u8>,
         query: &'a str,
-        encodings: Option<AcceptEncoding>,
+        accept_enc: Option<AcceptEncoding>,
+        preferred_enc: Option<PreferredEncoding>,
         cache: Option<&'a MainCache>,
     ) -> ActixResult<Self> {
         let (sources, use_url_query, info) = sources.get_sources(source_ids, zoom)?;
@@ -93,7 +105,8 @@ impl<'a> DynTileSource<'a> {
             info,
             query_str,
             query_obj,
-            encodings,
+            accept_enc,
+            preferred_enc,
             cache,
         })
     }
@@ -169,7 +182,7 @@ impl<'a> DynTileSource<'a> {
 
     fn recompress(&self, tile: TileData) -> ActixResult<Tile> {
         let mut tile = Tile::new(tile, self.info);
-        if let Some(accept_enc) = &self.encodings {
+        if let Some(accept_enc) = &self.accept_enc {
             if self.info.encoding.is_encoded() {
                 // already compressed, see if we can send it as is, or need to re-compress
                 if !accept_enc.iter().any(|e| {
@@ -183,10 +196,15 @@ impl<'a> DynTileSource<'a> {
                     tile = decode(tile)?;
                 }
             }
+
             if tile.info.encoding == Encoding::Uncompressed {
+                let ordered_encodings = match self.preferred_enc {
+                    Some(PreferredEncoding::Gzip) => PREFER_GZIP_ENC,
+                    Some(PreferredEncoding::Brotli) | None => PREFER_BROTLI_ENC,
+                };
+
                 // only apply compression if the content supports it
-                if let Some(HeaderEnc::Known(enc)) =
-                    accept_enc.negotiate(SUPPORTED_ENCODINGS.iter())
+                if let Some(HeaderEnc::Known(enc)) = accept_enc.negotiate(ordered_encodings.iter())
                 {
                     // (re-)compress the tile into the preferred encoding
                     tile = encode(tile, enc)?;
@@ -251,6 +269,53 @@ mod tests {
     use super::*;
     use crate::srv::server::tests::TestSource;
 
+    #[actix_rt::test]
+    async fn test_encoding_preference() {
+        let source = TestSource {
+            id: "test_source",
+            tj: tilejson! { tiles: vec![] },
+            data: vec![1_u8, 2, 3],
+        };
+        let sources = TileSources::new(vec![vec![Box::new(source)]]);
+
+        for (accept_encodings, prefered_encoding, result_encoding) in [
+            (
+                Some(AcceptEncoding(vec![
+                    "gzip;q=1".parse().unwrap(),
+                    "br;q=1".parse().unwrap(),
+                ])),
+                Some(PreferredEncoding::Brotli),
+                Encoding::Brotli,
+            ),
+            (
+                Some(AcceptEncoding(vec![
+                    "gzip;q=1".parse().unwrap(),
+                    "br;q=0.5".parse().unwrap(),
+                ])),
+                Some(PreferredEncoding::Brotli),
+                Encoding::Gzip,
+            ),
+        ] {
+            let src = DynTileSource::new(
+                &sources,
+                "test_source",
+                None,
+                "",
+                accept_encodings,
+                prefered_encoding,
+                None,
+            )
+            .unwrap();
+            let xyz = TileCoord { z: 0, x: 0, y: 0 };
+            let data = &src.get_tile_content(xyz).await.unwrap().data;
+            let decoded = match result_encoding {
+                Encoding::Gzip => decode_gzip(data),
+                Encoding::Brotli => decode_brotli(data),
+                _ => panic!("Unexpected encoding"),
+            };
+            assert_eq!(vec![1_u8, 2, 3], decoded.unwrap());
+        }
+    }
     #[actix_rt::test]
     async fn test_tile_content() {
         let non_empty_source = TestSource {
@@ -278,7 +343,7 @@ mod tests {
             ("empty,non-empty", vec![1_u8, 2, 3]),
             ("empty,non-empty,empty", vec![1_u8, 2, 3]),
         ] {
-            let src = DynTileSource::new(&sources, source_id, None, "", None, None).unwrap();
+            let src = DynTileSource::new(&sources, source_id, None, "", None, None, None).unwrap();
             let xyz = TileCoord { z: 0, x: 0, y: 0 };
             assert_eq!(expected, &src.get_tile_content(xyz).await.unwrap().data);
         }
diff --git a/martin/tests/mb_server_test.rs b/martin/tests/mb_server_test.rs
index b38d490b6..9af72bc9a 100644
--- a/martin/tests/mb_server_test.rs
+++ b/martin/tests/mb_server_test.rs
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ use ctor::ctor;
 use indoc::indoc;
 use insta::assert_yaml_snapshot;
 use martin::decode_gzip;
+use martin::srv::SrvConfig;
 use tilejson::TileJSON;
 
 pub mod utils;
@@ -24,6 +25,7 @@ macro_rules! create_app {
                 ))
                 .app_data(actix_web::web::Data::new(::martin::NO_MAIN_CACHE))
                 .app_data(actix_web::web::Data::new(state.tiles))
+                .app_data(actix_web::web::Data::new(SrvConfig::default()))
                 .configure(::martin::srv::router),
         )
         .await
diff --git a/martin/tests/pg_server_test.rs b/martin/tests/pg_server_test.rs
index 55b7f37a3..c63c11a7d 100644
--- a/martin/tests/pg_server_test.rs
+++ b/martin/tests/pg_server_test.rs
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ use actix_web::test::{call_and_read_body_json, call_service, read_body, TestRequ
 use ctor::ctor;
 use indoc::indoc;
 use insta::assert_yaml_snapshot;
+use martin::srv::SrvConfig;
 use martin::OptOneMany;
 use tilejson::TileJSON;
 
@@ -28,6 +29,7 @@ macro_rules! create_app {
                 ))
                 .app_data(actix_web::web::Data::new(::martin::NO_MAIN_CACHE))
                 .app_data(actix_web::web::Data::new(state.tiles))
+                .app_data(actix_web::web::Data::new(SrvConfig::default()))
                 .configure(::martin::srv::router),
         )
         .await
@@ -1089,6 +1091,7 @@ tables:
             ))
             .app_data(actix_web::web::Data::new(::martin::NO_MAIN_CACHE))
             .app_data(actix_web::web::Data::new(state.tiles))
+            .app_data(actix_web::web::Data::new(SrvConfig::default()))
             .configure(::martin::srv::router),
     )
     .await;
diff --git a/martin/tests/pmt_server_test.rs b/martin/tests/pmt_server_test.rs
index 9a6e7ce46..422d82cde 100644
--- a/martin/tests/pmt_server_test.rs
+++ b/martin/tests/pmt_server_test.rs
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ use ctor::ctor;
 use indoc::indoc;
 use insta::assert_yaml_snapshot;
 use martin::decode_gzip;
+use martin::srv::SrvConfig;
 use tilejson::TileJSON;
 
 pub mod utils;
@@ -24,6 +25,7 @@ macro_rules! create_app {
                 ))
                 .app_data(actix_web::web::Data::new(::martin::NO_MAIN_CACHE))
                 .app_data(actix_web::web::Data::new(state.tiles))
+                .app_data(actix_web::web::Data::new(SrvConfig::default()))
                 .configure(::martin::srv::router),
         )
         .await