diff --git a/PIL/TiffImagePlugin.py b/PIL/TiffImagePlugin.py
index 695a2034a..771b1a5a2 100644
--- a/PIL/TiffImagePlugin.py
+++ b/PIL/TiffImagePlugin.py
@@ -915,7 +915,7 @@ def _save(im, fp, filename):
 
     ifd = ImageFileDirectory(prefix)
 
-    compression = im.info.get('compression','raw')
+    compression = im.encoderinfo.get('compression',im.info.get('compression','raw'))
     libtiff = compression in ["tiff_ccitt", "group3", "group4",
                               "tiff_jpeg", "tiff_adobe_deflate",
                               "tiff_thunderscan", "tiff_deflate",
diff --git a/Tests/test_file_libtiff.py b/Tests/test_file_libtiff.py
index c68633780..19626c1da 100644
--- a/Tests/test_file_libtiff.py
+++ b/Tests/test_file_libtiff.py
@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@ def test_g4_write():
     assert_equal(reread.size,(500,500))
     _assert_noerr(reread)
     assert_image_equal(reread, rot)
+    assert_equal(reread.info['compression'], 'group4')
 
     assert_equal(reread.info['compression'], orig.info['compression'])
     
@@ -107,6 +108,15 @@ def test_adobe_deflate_tiff():
     assert_no_exception(lambda: im.load())
 
 
+def test_g3_compression():
+    i = Image.open('Tests/images/lena_g4_500.tif')
+    out = tempfile("temp.tif")
+    i.save(out, compression='group3')
+
+    reread = Image.open(out)
+    assert_equal(reread.info['compression'], 'group3')
+    assert_image_equal(reread, i)
+    
 def test_little_endian():
     im = Image.open('Tests/images/12bit.deflate.tif')
     assert_equal(im.getpixel((0,0)), 480)