diff --git a/datadog_lambda/metric.py b/datadog_lambda/metric.py
index aef07c39..00bdb5ec 100644
--- a/datadog_lambda/metric.py
+++ b/datadog_lambda/metric.py
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ def flush(self, value):
 if should_use_extension:
     lambda_stats = StatsDWrapper()
 else:
-    lambda_stats = ThreadStats()
+    lambda_stats = ThreadStats(compress_payload=True)
     lambda_stats.start()