diff --git a/doc/mkdwarfs.md b/doc/mkdwarfs.md
index 1050f688..aafd65bf 100644
--- a/doc/mkdwarfs.md
+++ b/doc/mkdwarfs.md
@@ -111,11 +111,21 @@ Most other options are concerned with compression tuning:
     care about mount time, you can safely choose `lzma` compression here, as
     the data will only have to be decompressed once when mounting the image.
 
-  * `--recompress`:
-    Take an existing DwarFS filesystem and recompress it using a different
-    compression algorithm. Note that *only* the compression algorithm, i.e.
-    the `--compression` option, has an impact on the new filesystem. Other
-    options, e.g. `--block-size-bits`, have no impact.
+  * `--recompress`[`=all|block|metadata|none`]:
+    Take an existing DwarFS file system and recompress it using different
+    compression algorithms. If no argument or `all` is given, all sections
+    in the file system image will be recompressed. Note that *only* the
+    compression algorithms, i.e. the `--compression`, `--schema-compression`
+    and `--metadata-compression` options, have an impact on how the new file
+    system is written. Other options, e.g. `--block-size-bits` or `--order`,
+    have no impact. If `none` is given as an argument, none of the sections
+    will be recompressed, but the file system is still rewritten in the
+    latest file system format. This is an easy way of upgrading an old file
+    system image to a new format. If `block` or `metadata` is given, only
+    the block sections (i.e. the actual file data) or the metadata sections
+    are recompressed. This can be useful if you want to switch from compressed
+    metadata to uncompressed metadata without having to rebuild or recompress
+    all the other data.
 
   * `--set-owner=`*uid*:
     Set the owner for all entities in the file system. This can reduce the
diff --git a/include/dwarfs/filesystem_v2.h b/include/dwarfs/filesystem_v2.h
index 1995a33c..17349563 100644
--- a/include/dwarfs/filesystem_v2.h
+++ b/include/dwarfs/filesystem_v2.h
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ struct statvfs;
 namespace dwarfs {
 
 struct filesystem_options;
+struct rewrite_options;
 struct iovec_read_buf;
 
 class filesystem_writer;
@@ -61,7 +62,7 @@ class filesystem_v2 {
                 int inode_offset = 0);
 
   static void rewrite(logger& lgr, progress& prog, std::shared_ptr<mmif> mm,
-                      filesystem_writer& writer);
+                      filesystem_writer& writer, rewrite_options const& opts);
 
   static void identify(logger& lgr, std::shared_ptr<mmif> mm, std::ostream& os,
                        int detail_level = 0);
diff --git a/include/dwarfs/filesystem_writer.h b/include/dwarfs/filesystem_writer.h
index c52fe3d7..5ce4883e 100644
--- a/include/dwarfs/filesystem_writer.h
+++ b/include/dwarfs/filesystem_writer.h
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@
 #include <utility>
 #include <vector>
 
+#include <folly/Range.h>
+
 #include "dwarfs/fstypes.h"
 #include "dwarfs/worker_group.h"
 
@@ -64,11 +66,6 @@ class filesystem_writer {
                     const block_compressor& schema_bc,
                     const block_compressor& metadata_bc, size_t max_queue_size);
 
-  // section create_block();
-  // section create_metadata();
-
-  // void add_section(section&& section);
-
   void write_block(std::vector<uint8_t>&& data) {
     impl_->write_block(std::move(data));
   }
@@ -81,6 +78,11 @@ class filesystem_writer {
     impl_->write_metadata_v2(std::move(data));
   }
 
+  void write_compressed_section(section_type type, compression_type compression,
+                                folly::ByteRange data) {
+    impl_->write_compressed_section(type, compression, data);
+  }
+
   void flush() { impl_->flush(); }
 
   size_t size() const { return impl_->size(); }
@@ -92,6 +94,9 @@ class filesystem_writer {
     virtual void write_block(std::vector<uint8_t>&& data) = 0;
     virtual void write_metadata_v2_schema(std::vector<uint8_t>&& data) = 0;
     virtual void write_metadata_v2(std::vector<uint8_t>&& data) = 0;
+    virtual void
+    write_compressed_section(section_type type, compression_type compression,
+                             folly::ByteRange data) = 0;
     virtual void flush() = 0;
     virtual size_t size() const = 0;
   };
diff --git a/include/dwarfs/fs_section.h b/include/dwarfs/fs_section.h
index aa0a0ab4..499d1cb7 100644
--- a/include/dwarfs/fs_section.h
+++ b/include/dwarfs/fs_section.h
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@
 #include <memory>
 #include <string>
 
+#include <folly/Range.h>
+
 #include "dwarfs/fstypes.h"
 
 namespace dwarfs {
@@ -42,6 +44,7 @@ class fs_section {
   std::string description() const { return impl_->description(); }
   bool check_fast(mmif& mm) const { return impl_->check_fast(mm); }
   bool verify(mmif& mm) const { return impl_->verify(mm); }
+  folly::ByteRange data(mmif& mm) const { return impl_->data(mm); }
 
   size_t end() const { return start() + length(); }
 
@@ -57,6 +60,7 @@ class fs_section {
     virtual std::string description() const = 0;
     virtual bool check_fast(mmif& mm) const = 0;
     virtual bool verify(mmif& mm) const = 0;
+    virtual folly::ByteRange data(mmif& mm) const = 0;
   };
 
  private:
diff --git a/include/dwarfs/options.h b/include/dwarfs/options.h
index cc7b3bf2..26ed2ca6 100644
--- a/include/dwarfs/options.h
+++ b/include/dwarfs/options.h
@@ -75,6 +75,11 @@ struct scanner_options {
   inode_options inode;
 };
 
+struct rewrite_options {
+  bool recompress_block{false};
+  bool recompress_metadata{false};
+};
+
 std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& os, file_order_mode mode);
 
 mlock_mode parse_mlock_mode(std::string_view mode);
diff --git a/src/dwarfs/filesystem_v2.cpp b/src/dwarfs/filesystem_v2.cpp
index 6fdb3156..e92fe11f 100644
--- a/src/dwarfs/filesystem_v2.cpp
+++ b/src/dwarfs/filesystem_v2.cpp
@@ -382,13 +382,15 @@ filesystem_v2::filesystem_v2(logger& lgr, std::shared_ptr<mmif> mm,
           lgr, std::move(mm), options, stat_defaults, inode_offset)) {}
 
 void filesystem_v2::rewrite(logger& lgr, progress& prog,
-                            std::shared_ptr<mmif> mm,
-                            filesystem_writer& writer) {
+                            std::shared_ptr<mmif> mm, filesystem_writer& writer,
+                            rewrite_options const& opts) {
   // TODO:
   LOG_PROXY(debug_logger_policy, lgr);
   filesystem_parser parser(mm);
 
+  std::vector<section_type> section_types;
   section_map sections;
+  size_t total_block_size = 0;
 
   while (auto s = parser.next_section()) {
     if (!s->check_fast(*mm)) {
@@ -400,36 +402,55 @@ void filesystem_v2::rewrite(logger& lgr, progress& prog,
     }
     if (s->type() == section_type::BLOCK) {
       ++prog.block_count;
+      total_block_size += s->length();
     } else {
       if (!sections.emplace(s->type(), *s).second) {
         DWARFS_THROW(runtime_error, "duplicate section: " + s->name());
       }
+      section_types.push_back(s->type());
     }
   }
 
   std::vector<uint8_t> schema_raw;
   std::vector<uint8_t> meta_raw;
-  auto meta = make_metadata(lgr, mm, sections, schema_raw, meta_raw,
-                            metadata_options(), nullptr, 0, true);
 
-  struct ::statvfs stbuf;
-  meta.statvfs(&stbuf);
-  prog.original_size = stbuf.f_blocks * stbuf.f_frsize;
+  if (opts.recompress_metadata) {
+    auto meta = make_metadata(lgr, mm, sections, schema_raw, meta_raw,
+                              metadata_options(), nullptr, 0, true);
+
+    struct ::statvfs stbuf;
+    meta.statvfs(&stbuf);
+    prog.original_size = stbuf.f_blocks * stbuf.f_frsize;
+  } else {
+    prog.original_size = total_block_size;
+  }
 
   parser.rewind();
 
   while (auto s = parser.next_section()) {
     // TODO: multi-thread this?
     if (s->type() == section_type::BLOCK) {
-      auto block = block_decompressor::decompress(
-          s->compression(), mm->as<uint8_t>(s->start()), s->length());
-      prog.filesystem_size += block.size();
-      writer.write_block(std::move(block));
+      if (opts.recompress_block) {
+        auto block = block_decompressor::decompress(
+            s->compression(), mm->as<uint8_t>(s->start()), s->length());
+        prog.filesystem_size += block.size();
+        writer.write_block(std::move(block));
+      } else {
+        writer.write_compressed_section(s->type(), s->compression(),
+                                        s->data(*mm));
+      }
     }
   }
 
-  writer.write_metadata_v2_schema(std::move(schema_raw));
-  writer.write_metadata_v2(std::move(meta_raw));
+  if (opts.recompress_metadata) {
+    writer.write_metadata_v2_schema(std::move(schema_raw));
+    writer.write_metadata_v2(std::move(meta_raw));
+  } else {
+    for (auto type : section_types) {
+      auto& sec = DWARFS_NOTHROW(sections.at(type));
+      writer.write_compressed_section(type, sec.compression(), sec.data(*mm));
+    }
+  }
 
   writer.flush();
 }
diff --git a/src/dwarfs/filesystem_writer.cpp b/src/dwarfs/filesystem_writer.cpp
index 1be459bb..76dba7b3 100644
--- a/src/dwarfs/filesystem_writer.cpp
+++ b/src/dwarfs/filesystem_writer.cpp
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 #include <mutex>
 #include <thread>
 
+#include <folly/Range.h>
 #include <folly/system/ThreadName.h>
 
 #include "dwarfs/block_compressor.h"
@@ -41,20 +42,56 @@
 
 namespace dwarfs {
 
+namespace {
+
 class fsblock {
+ public:
+  fsblock(logger& lgr, section_type type, const block_compressor& bc,
+          std::vector<uint8_t>&& data);
+
+  fsblock(section_type type, compression_type compression,
+          folly::ByteRange data);
+
+  void compress(worker_group& wg) { impl_->compress(wg); }
+  void wait_until_compressed() { impl_->wait_until_compressed(); }
+  section_type type() const { return impl_->type(); }
+  compression_type compression() const { return impl_->compression(); }
+  folly::ByteRange data() const { return impl_->data(); }
+  size_t uncompressed_size() const { return impl_->uncompressed_size(); }
+  size_t size() const { return impl_->size(); }
+
+  class impl {
+   public:
+    virtual ~impl() = default;
+
+    virtual void compress(worker_group& wg) = 0;
+    virtual void wait_until_compressed() = 0;
+    virtual section_type type() const = 0;
+    virtual compression_type compression() const = 0;
+    virtual folly::ByteRange data() const = 0;
+    virtual size_t uncompressed_size() const = 0;
+    virtual size_t size() const = 0;
+  };
+
+ private:
+  std::unique_ptr<impl> impl_;
+};
+
+template <typename LoggerPolicy>
+class raw_fsblock : public fsblock::impl {
  private:
   class state {
    public:
-    state(std::vector<uint8_t>&& data)
+    state(std::vector<uint8_t>&& data, logger& lgr)
         : compressed_(false)
-        , data_(std::move(data)) {}
+        , data_(std::move(data))
+        , LOG_PROXY_INIT(lgr) {}
 
-    template <typename LogProxy>
-    void compress(const block_compressor& bc, LogProxy& lp) {
+    void compress(const block_compressor& bc) {
       std::vector<uint8_t> tmp;
 
       {
-        auto td = lp.timed_trace();
+        auto td = LOG_TIMED_TRACE;
 
         tmp = bc.compress(data_);
 
@@ -87,50 +124,83 @@ class fsblock {
     std::condition_variable cond_;
     std::atomic<bool> compressed_;
     std::vector<uint8_t> data_;
+    LOG_PROXY_DECL(LoggerPolicy);
   };
 
  public:
-  fsblock(section_type type, const block_compressor& bc,
-          std::vector<uint8_t>&& data)
+  raw_fsblock(logger& lgr, section_type type, const block_compressor& bc,
+              std::vector<uint8_t>&& data)
       : type_(type)
       , bc_(bc)
       , uncompressed_size_(data.size())
-      , state_(std::make_shared<state>(std::move(data))) {}
+      , state_(std::make_shared<state>(std::move(data), lgr))
+      , LOG_PROXY_INIT(lgr) {}
 
-  template <typename LogProxy>
-  void compress(worker_group& wg, LogProxy& lp) {
-    lp.trace() << "block queued for compression";
+  void compress(worker_group& wg) override {
+    LOG_TRACE << "block queued for compression";
 
     std::shared_ptr<state> s = state_;
 
     wg.add_job([&, s] {
-      lp.trace() << "block compression started";
-      s->compress(bc_, lp);
+      LOG_TRACE << "block compression started";
+      s->compress(bc_);
     });
   }
 
-  void wait_until_compressed() { state_->wait(); }
+  void wait_until_compressed() override { state_->wait(); }
 
-  section_type type() const { return type_; }
+  section_type type() const override { return type_; }
 
-  compression_type compression() const { return bc_.type(); }
+  compression_type compression() const override { return bc_.type(); }
 
-  const std::vector<uint8_t>& data() const {
-    return state_->data();
-    ;
-  }
+  folly::ByteRange data() const override { return state_->data(); }
 
-  size_t uncompressed_size() const { return uncompressed_size_; }
+  size_t uncompressed_size() const override { return uncompressed_size_; }
 
-  size_t size() const { return state_->size(); }
+  size_t size() const override { return state_->size(); }
 
  private:
   const section_type type_;
   block_compressor const& bc_;
   const size_t uncompressed_size_;
   std::shared_ptr<state> state_;
+  LOG_PROXY_DECL(LoggerPolicy);
 };
 
+class compressed_fsblock : public fsblock::impl {
+ public:
+  compressed_fsblock(section_type type, compression_type compression,
+                     folly::ByteRange range)
+      : type_(type)
+      , compression_(compression)
+      , range_(range) {}
+
+  void compress(worker_group&) override {}
+  void wait_until_compressed() override {}
+
+  section_type type() const override { return type_; }
+  compression_type compression() const override { return compression_; }
+
+  folly::ByteRange data() const override { return range_; }
+
+  size_t uncompressed_size() const override { return range_.size(); }
+  size_t size() const override { return range_.size(); }
+
+ private:
+  const section_type type_;
+  const compression_type compression_;
+  folly::ByteRange range_;
+};
+
+fsblock::fsblock(logger& lgr, section_type type, const block_compressor& bc,
+                 std::vector<uint8_t>&& data)
+    : impl_(make_unique_logging_object<impl, raw_fsblock, logger_policies>(
+          lgr, type, bc, std::move(data))) {}
+
+fsblock::fsblock(section_type type, compression_type compression,
+                 folly::ByteRange data)
+    : impl_(std::make_unique<compressed_fsblock>(type, compression, data)) {}
+
 template <typename LoggerPolicy>
 class filesystem_writer_ : public filesystem_writer::impl {
  public:
@@ -144,6 +214,8 @@ class filesystem_writer_ : public filesystem_writer::impl {
   void write_block(std::vector<uint8_t>&& data) override;
   void write_metadata_v2_schema(std::vector<uint8_t>&& data) override;
   void write_metadata_v2(std::vector<uint8_t>&& data) override;
+  void write_compressed_section(section_type type, compression_type compression,
+                                folly::ByteRange data) override;
   void flush() override;
   size_t size() const override { return os_.tellp(); }
 
@@ -151,11 +223,11 @@ class filesystem_writer_ : public filesystem_writer::impl {
   void write_section(section_type type, std::vector<uint8_t>&& data,
                      block_compressor const& bc);
   void write(section_type type, compression_type compression,
-             const std::vector<uint8_t>& data);
+             folly::ByteRange range);
   void write(const char* data, size_t size);
   template <typename T>
   void write(const T& obj);
-  void write(const std::vector<uint8_t>& data);
+  void write(folly::ByteRange range);
   void writer_thread();
   size_t mem_used() const;
 
@@ -166,7 +238,7 @@ class filesystem_writer_ : public filesystem_writer::impl {
   const block_compressor& schema_bc_;
   const block_compressor& metadata_bc_;
   const size_t max_queue_size_;
-  log_proxy<LoggerPolicy> log_;
+  LOG_PROXY_DECL(LoggerPolicy);
   std::deque<std::unique_ptr<fsblock>> queue_;
   mutable std::mutex mx_;
   std::condition_variable cond_;
@@ -187,7 +259,7 @@ filesystem_writer_<LoggerPolicy>::filesystem_writer_(
     , schema_bc_(schema_bc)
     , metadata_bc_(metadata_bc)
     , max_queue_size_(max_queue_size)
-    , log_(lgr)
+    , LOG_PROXY_INIT(lgr)
     , flush_(false)
     , writer_thread_(&filesystem_writer_::writer_thread, this) {}
 
@@ -263,14 +335,14 @@ void filesystem_writer_<LoggerPolicy>::write(const T& obj) {
 }
 
 template <typename LoggerPolicy>
-void filesystem_writer_<LoggerPolicy>::write(const std::vector<uint8_t>& data) {
-  write(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(&data[0]), data.size());
+void filesystem_writer_<LoggerPolicy>::write(folly::ByteRange range) {
+  write(reinterpret_cast<const char*>(range.data()), range.size());
 }
 
 template <typename LoggerPolicy>
 void filesystem_writer_<LoggerPolicy>::write(section_type type,
                                              compression_type compression,
-                                             const std::vector<uint8_t>& data) {
+                                             folly::ByteRange range) {
   section_header_v2 sh;
   ::memcpy(&sh.magic[0], "DWARFS", 6);
   sh.major = MAJOR_VERSION;
@@ -278,22 +350,22 @@ void filesystem_writer_<LoggerPolicy>::write(section_type type,
   sh.number = section_number_++;
   sh.type = static_cast<uint16_t>(type);
   sh.compression = static_cast<uint16_t>(compression);
-  sh.length = data.size();
+  sh.length = range.size();
 
   checksum xxh(checksum::algorithm::XXH3_64);
   xxh.update(&sh.number,
              sizeof(section_header_v2) - offsetof(section_header_v2, number));
-  xxh.update(data.data(), data.size());
+  xxh.update(range.data(), range.size());
   DWARFS_CHECK(xxh.finalize(&sh.xxh3_64), "XXH3-64 checksum failed");
 
   checksum sha(checksum::algorithm::SHA2_512_256);
   sha.update(&sh.xxh3_64,
              sizeof(section_header_v2) - offsetof(section_header_v2, xxh3_64));
-  sha.update(data.data(), data.size());
+  sha.update(range.data(), range.size());
   DWARFS_CHECK(sha.finalize(&sh.sha2_512_256), "SHA512/256 checksum failed");
 
   write(sh);
-  write(data);
+  write(range);
 
   if (type == section_type::BLOCK) {
     prog_.blocks_written++;
@@ -312,9 +384,23 @@ void filesystem_writer_<LoggerPolicy>::write_section(
     }
   }
 
-  auto fsb = std::make_unique<fsblock>(type, bc, std::move(data));
+  auto fsb =
+      std::make_unique<fsblock>(LOG_GET_LOGGER, type, bc, std::move(data));
 
-  fsb->compress(wg_, log_);
+  fsb->compress(wg_);
+
+  {
+    std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(mx_);
+    queue_.push_back(std::move(fsb));
+  }
+
+  cond_.notify_one();
+}
+
+template <typename LoggerPolicy>
+void filesystem_writer_<LoggerPolicy>::write_compressed_section(
+    section_type type, compression_type compression, folly::ByteRange data) {
+  auto fsb = std::make_unique<fsblock>(type, compression, data);
 
   {
     std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(mx_);
@@ -359,6 +445,8 @@ void filesystem_writer_<LoggerPolicy>::flush() {
   writer_thread_.join();
 }
 
+} // namespace
+
 filesystem_writer::filesystem_writer(std::ostream& os, logger& lgr,
                                      worker_group& wg, progress& prog,
                                      const block_compressor& bc,
diff --git a/src/dwarfs/fs_section.cpp b/src/dwarfs/fs_section.cpp
index 1319d1ca..9db68c3d 100644
--- a/src/dwarfs/fs_section.cpp
+++ b/src/dwarfs/fs_section.cpp
@@ -36,13 +36,20 @@ class fs_section_v1 : public fs_section::impl {
 
   size_t start() const override { return start_; }
   size_t length() const override { return hdr_.length; }
+
   compression_type compression() const override { return hdr_.compression; }
   section_type type() const override { return hdr_.type; }
+
   std::string name() const override { return get_section_name(hdr_.type); }
   std::string description() const override { return hdr_.to_string(); }
+
   bool check_fast(mmif&) const override { return true; }
   bool verify(mmif&) const override { return true; }
 
+  folly::ByteRange data(mmif& mm) const override {
+    return folly::ByteRange(mm.as<uint8_t>(start_), hdr_.length);
+  }
+
  private:
   size_t start_;
   section_header hdr_;
@@ -54,16 +61,21 @@ class fs_section_v2 : public fs_section::impl {
 
   size_t start() const override { return start_; }
   size_t length() const override { return hdr_.length; }
+
   compression_type compression() const override {
     return static_cast<compression_type>(hdr_.compression);
   }
+
   section_type type() const override {
     return static_cast<section_type>(hdr_.type);
   }
+
   std::string name() const override {
     return get_section_name(static_cast<section_type>(hdr_.type));
   }
+
   std::string description() const override { return hdr_.to_string(); }
+
   bool check_fast(mmif& mm) const override {
     auto hdr_cs_len =
         sizeof(section_header_v2) - offsetof(section_header_v2, number);
@@ -71,6 +83,7 @@ class fs_section_v2 : public fs_section::impl {
                             mm.as<void>(start_ - hdr_cs_len),
                             hdr_.length + hdr_cs_len, &hdr_.xxh3_64);
   }
+
   bool verify(mmif& mm) const override {
     auto hdr_sha_len =
         sizeof(section_header_v2) - offsetof(section_header_v2, xxh3_64);
@@ -79,6 +92,10 @@ class fs_section_v2 : public fs_section::impl {
                             hdr_.length + hdr_sha_len, &hdr_.sha2_512_256);
   }
 
+  folly::ByteRange data(mmif& mm) const override {
+    return folly::ByteRange(mm.as<uint8_t>(start_), hdr_.length);
+  }
+
  private:
   size_t start_;
   section_header_v2 hdr_;
diff --git a/src/mkdwarfs.cpp b/src/mkdwarfs.cpp
index 18bb38d1..3b31e198 100644
--- a/src/mkdwarfs.cpp
+++ b/src/mkdwarfs.cpp
@@ -295,9 +295,9 @@ int mkdwarfs(int argc, char** argv) {
   block_manager::config cfg;
   std::string path, output, window_sizes, memory_limit, script_arg, compression,
       schema_compression, metadata_compression, log_level_str, timestamp,
-      time_resolution, order, progress_mode;
+      time_resolution, order, progress_mode, recompress_opts;
   size_t num_workers, max_scanner_workers;
-  bool recompress = false, no_progress = false;
+  bool no_progress = false;
   unsigned level;
   uint16_t uid, gid;
 
@@ -347,8 +347,8 @@ int mkdwarfs(int argc, char** argv) {
         po::value<std::string>(&metadata_compression),
         "metadata compression algorithm")
     ("recompress",
-        po::value<bool>(&recompress)->zero_tokens(),
-        "recompress an existing filesystem")
+        po::value<std::string>(&recompress_opts)->implicit_value("all"),
+        "recompress an existing filesystem (none, block, metadata, all)")
     ("set-owner",
         po::value<uint16_t>(&uid),
         "set owner (uid) for whole file system")
@@ -516,6 +516,24 @@ int mkdwarfs(int argc, char** argv) {
     order = defaults.order;
   }
 
+  bool recompress = vm.count("recompress");
+  rewrite_options rw_opts;
+  if (recompress) {
+    std::unordered_map<std::string, unsigned> const modes{
+        {"all", 3},
+        {"metadata", 2},
+        {"block", 1},
+        {"none", 0},
+    };
+    if (auto it = modes.find(recompress_opts); it != modes.end()) {
+      rw_opts.recompress_block = it->second & 1;
+      rw_opts.recompress_metadata = it->second & 2;
+    } else {
+      std::cerr << "invalid recompress mode: " << recompress_opts << std::endl;
+      return 1;
+    }
+  }
+
   std::vector<std::string> order_opts;
   boost::split(order_opts, order, boost::is_any_of(":"));
 
@@ -721,8 +739,8 @@ int mkdwarfs(int argc, char** argv) {
   auto ti = LOG_TIMED_INFO;
 
   if (recompress) {
-    filesystem_v2::rewrite(lgr, prog, std::make_shared<dwarfs::mmap>(path),
-                           fsw);
+    filesystem_v2::rewrite(lgr, prog, std::make_shared<dwarfs::mmap>(path), fsw,
+                           rw_opts);
     wg_writer.wait();
   } else {
     options.inode.with_similarity =
diff --git a/test/compat-v0.3.0.dwarfs b/test/compat-v0.3.0.dwarfs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b4f54bd3
Binary files /dev/null and b/test/compat-v0.3.0.dwarfs differ
diff --git a/test/dwarfs.cpp b/test/dwarfs.cpp
index 58a22ee5..6f0be415 100644
--- a/test/dwarfs.cpp
+++ b/test/dwarfs.cpp
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 #include "dwarfs/scanner.h"
 #include "dwarfs/script.h"
 #include "loremipsum.h"
+#include "mmap_mock.h"
 
 namespace dwarfs {
 namespace test {
@@ -90,26 +91,6 @@ std::map<std::string, simplestat> statmap{
 };
 } // namespace
 
-class mmap_mock : public mmif {
- public:
-  mmap_mock(const std::string& data)
-      : m_data(data) {}
-
-  void const* addr() const override { return m_data.data(); }
-
-  size_t size() const override { return m_data.size(); }
-
-  boost::system::error_code lock(off_t, size_t) override {
-    return boost::system::error_code();
-  }
-  boost::system::error_code release(off_t, size_t) override {
-    return boost::system::error_code();
-  }
-
- private:
-  const std::string m_data;
-};
-
 class os_access_mock : public os_access {
  public:
   std::shared_ptr<dir_reader> opendir(const std::string& path) const override {
diff --git a/test/dwarfs_compat.cpp b/test/dwarfs_compat.cpp
index fabce58a..dbc14b93 100644
--- a/test/dwarfs_compat.cpp
+++ b/test/dwarfs_compat.cpp
@@ -23,14 +23,21 @@
 
 #include <sstream>
 #include <string>
+#include <tuple>
 #include <vector>
 
 #include <folly/json.h>
 
+#include "dwarfs/block_compressor.h"
 #include "dwarfs/filesystem_v2.h"
+#include "dwarfs/filesystem_writer.h"
 #include "dwarfs/logger.h"
 #include "dwarfs/mmap.h"
 #include "dwarfs/options.h"
+#include "dwarfs/progress.h"
+#include "dwarfs/worker_group.h"
+
+#include "mmap_mock.h"
 
 namespace {
 
@@ -153,6 +160,7 @@ char const* reference = R"(
 std::vector<std::string> versions{
     "0.2.0",
     "0.2.3",
+    "0.3.0",
 };
 
 } // namespace
@@ -173,3 +181,39 @@ TEST_P(compat, backwards_compatibility) {
 }
 
 INSTANTIATE_TEST_SUITE_P(dwarfs, compat, ::testing::ValuesIn(versions));
+
+class rewrite
+    : public testing::TestWithParam<std::tuple<std::string, bool, bool>> {};
+
+TEST_P(rewrite, filesystem_rewrite) {
+  auto [version, recompress_block, recompress_metadata] = GetParam();
+
+  std::ostringstream oss;
+  stream_logger lgr(oss);
+  auto filename = std::string(TEST_DATA_DIR "/compat-v") + version + ".dwarfs";
+
+  rewrite_options opts;
+  opts.recompress_block = recompress_block;
+  opts.recompress_metadata = recompress_metadata;
+
+  worker_group wg("rewriter", 2);
+  block_compressor bc("null");
+  progress prog([](const progress&, bool) {}, 1000);
+  std::ostringstream rewritten, idss;
+  filesystem_writer fsw(rewritten, lgr, wg, prog, bc, 64 << 20);
+  filesystem_v2::identify(lgr, std::make_shared<mmap>(filename), idss);
+  filesystem_v2::rewrite(lgr, prog, std::make_shared<mmap>(filename), fsw,
+                         opts);
+
+  filesystem_v2::identify(
+      lgr, std::make_shared<test::mmap_mock>(rewritten.str()), idss);
+  filesystem_v2 fs(lgr, std::make_shared<test::mmap_mock>(rewritten.str()));
+  auto meta = fs.metadata_as_dynamic();
+  auto ref = folly::parseJson(reference);
+  EXPECT_EQ(ref, meta);
+}
+
+INSTANTIATE_TEST_SUITE_P(dwarfs, rewrite,
+                         ::testing::Combine(::testing::ValuesIn(versions),
+                                            ::testing::Bool(),
+                                            ::testing::Bool()));
diff --git a/test/mmap_mock.h b/test/mmap_mock.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cb2f1e8e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/mmap_mock.h
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+/* vim:set ts=2 sw=2 sts=2 et: */
+/**
+ * \author     Marcus Holland-Moritz (github@mhxnet.de)
+ * \copyright  Copyright (c) Marcus Holland-Moritz
+ *
+ * This file is part of dwarfs.
+ *
+ * dwarfs is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * dwarfs is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with dwarfs.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+#include "dwarfs/mmif.h"
+
+namespace dwarfs {
+namespace test {
+
+class mmap_mock : public mmif {
+ public:
+  mmap_mock(const std::string& data)
+      : m_data(data) {}
+
+  void const* addr() const override { return m_data.data(); }
+
+  size_t size() const override { return m_data.size(); }
+
+  boost::system::error_code lock(off_t, size_t) override {
+    return boost::system::error_code();
+  }
+  boost::system::error_code release(off_t, size_t) override {
+    return boost::system::error_code();
+  }
+
+ private:
+  const std::string m_data;
+};
+
+} // namespace test
+} // namespace dwarfs