diff --git a/net/rsync/Config.in b/net/rsync/Config.in
index c78288069..dfbfdf16c 100644
--- a/net/rsync/Config.in
+++ b/net/rsync/Config.in
@@ -9,4 +9,17 @@ if PACKAGE_rsync
 		bool
 		prompt "Enable ACL support"
 		default n
+
+	config RSYNC_zlib
+		bool
+		prompt "Enable system zlib"
+		help 
+			Use the system's zlib library instead of rsync's internal copy. Enabling
+			this may create compatibility errors when using compression  with older
+			clients, or those using the current default of the bundled zlib.
+
+			rsync's upstream default is to use their bundled zlib. OpenWrt uses the
+			system zlib for space reasons. The system zlib will eventually become 
+			default for upstream as well.
+		default y
 endif
diff --git a/net/rsync/Makefile b/net/rsync/Makefile
index 6d6d201b6..dd0dfb2cc 100644
--- a/net/rsync/Makefile
+++ b/net/rsync/Makefile
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ define Package/rsync
   CATEGORY:=Network
   SUBMENU:=File Transfer
   TITLE:=Fast remote file copy program (like rcp)
-  DEPENDS:=+libpopt +zlib +RSYNC_xattr:libattr +RSYNC_acl:libacl
+  DEPENDS:=+libpopt +RSYNC_xattr:libattr +RSYNC_acl:libacl +RSYNC_zlib:zlib
   URL:=http://rsync.samba.org/
   MENU:=1
 endef
@@ -38,6 +38,11 @@ define Package/rsync/config
 	source "$(SOURCE)/Config.in"
 endef
 
+CONFIGURE_ARGS += \
+	--with-included-popt=no \
+	--disable-debug \
+	--disable-locale \
+
 ifeq ($(CONFIG_RSYNC_xattr),y)
 	CONFIGURE_ARGS+= --enable-xattr-support
 else
@@ -50,6 +55,12 @@ else
 	CONFIGURE_ARGS+= --disable-acl-support
 endif
 
+ifeq ($(CONFIG_RSYNC_zlib),y)
+	CONFIGURE_ARGS+= --with-included-zlib=no
+else
+	CONFIGURE_ARGS+= --with-included-zlib=yes
+endif
+
 define Package/rsyncd
   SECTION:=net
   CATEGORY:=Network
@@ -69,12 +80,6 @@ define Package/rsync/description
  between two sets of files across the network link.
 endef
 
-CONFIGURE_ARGS += \
-	--with-included-popt=no \
-	--with-included-zlib=no \
-	--disable-debug \
-	--disable-locale \
-
 define Package/rsync/install
 	$(INSTALL_DIR) $(1)/usr/bin
 	$(INSTALL_BIN) $(PKG_INSTALL_DIR)/usr/bin/$(PKG_NAME) $(1)/usr/bin/