diff --git a/include/dwarfs/block_compressor.h b/include/dwarfs/block_compressor.h
index 6edcb8e8..bd9354ac 100644
--- a/include/dwarfs/block_compressor.h
+++ b/include/dwarfs/block_compressor.h
@@ -91,6 +91,8 @@ class block_compressor {
     return impl_->get_compression_constraints(metadata);
   }
 
+  explicit operator bool() const { return static_cast<bool>(impl_); }
+
   class impl {
    public:
     virtual ~impl() = default;
diff --git a/include/dwarfs/writer/filesystem_writer.h b/include/dwarfs/writer/filesystem_writer.h
index 51c870fb..db5757a1 100644
--- a/include/dwarfs/writer/filesystem_writer.h
+++ b/include/dwarfs/writer/filesystem_writer.h
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #include <iosfwd>
 
 #include <dwarfs/block_compressor.h>
+#include <dwarfs/fstypes.h>
 #include <dwarfs/writer/fragment_category.h>
 
 namespace dwarfs {
@@ -46,17 +47,10 @@ class filesystem_writer_detail;
 class filesystem_writer {
  public:
   filesystem_writer(std::ostream& os, logger& lgr, thread_pool& pool,
-                    writer_progress& prog, block_compressor const& bc);
+                    writer_progress& prog);
 
   filesystem_writer(std::ostream& os, logger& lgr, thread_pool& pool,
-                    writer_progress& prog, block_compressor const& schema_bc,
-                    block_compressor const& metadata_bc,
-                    block_compressor const& history_bc);
-
-  filesystem_writer(std::ostream& os, logger& lgr, thread_pool& pool,
-                    writer_progress& prog, block_compressor const& schema_bc,
-                    block_compressor const& metadata_bc,
-                    block_compressor const& history_bc,
+                    writer_progress& prog,
                     filesystem_writer_options const& options,
                     std::istream* header = nullptr);
 
@@ -67,6 +61,7 @@ class filesystem_writer {
   void add_default_compressor(block_compressor bc);
   void add_category_compressor(fragment_category::value_type cat,
                                block_compressor bc);
+  void add_section_compressor(section_type type, block_compressor bc);
 
   internal::filesystem_writer_detail& get_internal() { return *impl_; }
 
diff --git a/include/dwarfs/writer/internal/filesystem_writer_detail.h b/include/dwarfs/writer/internal/filesystem_writer_detail.h
index 158e112e..f8eff04d 100644
--- a/include/dwarfs/writer/internal/filesystem_writer_detail.h
+++ b/include/dwarfs/writer/internal/filesystem_writer_detail.h
@@ -56,6 +56,8 @@ class filesystem_writer_detail {
   virtual void add_default_compressor(block_compressor bc) = 0;
   virtual void add_category_compressor(fragment_category::value_type cat,
                                        block_compressor bc) = 0;
+  virtual void
+  add_section_compressor(section_type type, block_compressor bc) = 0;
   virtual compression_constraints
   get_compression_constraints(fragment_category::value_type cat,
                               std::string const& metadata) const = 0;
diff --git a/src/writer/filesystem_writer.cpp b/src/writer/filesystem_writer.cpp
index ffda259a..ee4f838e 100644
--- a/src/writer/filesystem_writer.cpp
+++ b/src/writer/filesystem_writer.cpp
@@ -35,7 +35,6 @@
 
 #include <dwarfs/block_compressor.h>
 #include <dwarfs/checksum.h>
-#include <dwarfs/fstypes.h>
 #include <dwarfs/logger.h>
 #include <dwarfs/thread_pool.h>
 #include <dwarfs/util.h>
@@ -73,6 +72,23 @@ size_t copy_stream(std::istream& is, std::ostream& os) {
   return count;
 }
 
+std::string get_friendly_section_name(section_type type) {
+  switch (type) {
+  case section_type::METADATA_V2_SCHEMA:
+    return "schema";
+  case section_type::METADATA_V2:
+    return "metadata";
+  case section_type::HISTORY:
+    return "history";
+  case section_type::BLOCK:
+    return "block";
+  case section_type::SECTION_INDEX:
+    return "index";
+  }
+
+  return get_section_name(type);
+}
+
 class compression_progress : public progress::context {
  public:
   using status = progress::context::status;
@@ -188,7 +204,9 @@ class raw_fsblock : public fsblock::impl {
       , data_{std::move(data)}
       , comp_type_{bc_.type()}
       , pctx_{std::move(pctx)}
-      , set_block_cb_{std::move(set_block_cb)} {}
+      , set_block_cb_{std::move(set_block_cb)} {
+    DWARFS_CHECK(bc_, "block_compressor must not be null");
+  }
 
   void compress(worker_group& wg, std::optional<std::string> meta) override {
     std::promise<void> prom;
@@ -350,7 +368,9 @@ class rewritten_fsblock : public fsblock::impl {
       , data_{data}
       , comp_type_{bc_.type()}
       , pctx_{std::move(pctx)}
-      , data_comp_type_{data_comp_type} {}
+      , data_comp_type_{data_comp_type} {
+    DWARFS_CHECK(bc_, "block_compressor must not be null");
+  }
 
   void compress(worker_group& wg, std::optional<std::string> meta) override {
     std::promise<void> prom;
@@ -528,16 +548,14 @@ class filesystem_writer_ final : public filesystem_writer_detail {
       filesystem_writer_detail::physical_block_cb_type;
 
   filesystem_writer_(logger& lgr, std::ostream& os, worker_group& wg,
-                     progress& prog, block_compressor const& schema_bc,
-                     block_compressor const& metadata_bc,
-                     block_compressor const& history_bc,
-                     filesystem_writer_options const& options,
+                     progress& prog, filesystem_writer_options const& options,
                      std::istream* header);
   ~filesystem_writer_() noexcept override;
 
   void add_default_compressor(block_compressor bc) override;
   void add_category_compressor(fragment_category::value_type cat,
                                block_compressor bc) override;
+  void add_section_compressor(section_type type, block_compressor bc) override;
   compression_constraints
   get_compression_constraints(fragment_category::value_type cat,
                               std::string const& metadata) const override;
@@ -579,9 +597,8 @@ class filesystem_writer_ final : public filesystem_writer_detail {
                    block_compressor const& bc, std::optional<std::string> meta,
                    physical_block_cb_type physical_block_cb);
   void on_block_merged(block_holder_type holder);
-  void write_section_impl(section_type type, std::shared_ptr<block_data>&& data,
-                          block_compressor const& bc,
-                          std::optional<std::string> meta = std::nullopt);
+  void
+  write_section_impl(section_type type, std::shared_ptr<block_data>&& data);
   void write(fsblock const& fsb);
   void write(const char* data, size_t size);
   template <typename T>
@@ -598,10 +615,9 @@ class filesystem_writer_ final : public filesystem_writer_detail {
   worker_group& wg_;
   progress& prog_;
   std::optional<block_compressor> default_bc_;
-  std::unordered_map<fragment_category::value_type, block_compressor> bc_;
-  block_compressor const& schema_bc_;
-  block_compressor const& metadata_bc_;
-  block_compressor const& history_bc_;
+  std::unordered_map<fragment_category::value_type, block_compressor>
+      category_bc_;
+  std::unordered_map<section_type, block_compressor> section_bc_;
   filesystem_writer_options const options_;
   LOG_PROXY_DECL(LoggerPolicy);
   std::deque<block_holder_type> queue_;
@@ -621,16 +637,11 @@ class filesystem_writer_ final : public filesystem_writer_detail {
 template <typename LoggerPolicy>
 filesystem_writer_<LoggerPolicy>::filesystem_writer_(
     logger& lgr, std::ostream& os, worker_group& wg, progress& prog,
-    block_compressor const& schema_bc, block_compressor const& metadata_bc,
-    block_compressor const& history_bc,
     filesystem_writer_options const& options, std::istream* header)
     : os_(os)
     , header_(header)
     , wg_(wg)
     , prog_(prog)
-    , schema_bc_(schema_bc)
-    , metadata_bc_(metadata_bc)
-    , history_bc_(history_bc)
     , options_(options)
     , LOG_PROXY_INIT(lgr)
     , flush_{true} {
@@ -642,26 +653,6 @@ filesystem_writer_<LoggerPolicy>::filesystem_writer_(
     }
   }
 
-  auto check_compressor = [](std::string_view name,
-                             block_compressor const& bc) {
-    if (auto reqstr = bc.metadata_requirements(); !reqstr.empty()) {
-      try {
-        auto req = compression_metadata_requirements<nlohmann::json>{reqstr};
-        req.check(std::nullopt);
-      } catch (std::exception const& e) {
-        auto msg = fmt::format(
-            "cannot use '{}' for {} compression because compression "
-            "metadata requirements are not met: {}",
-            bc.describe(), name, e.what());
-        DWARFS_THROW(runtime_error, msg);
-      }
-    }
-  };
-
-  check_compressor("schema", schema_bc);
-  check_compressor("metadata", metadata_bc);
-  check_compressor("history", history_bc);
-
   // TODO: the whole flush & thread thing needs to be revisited
   flush_ = false;
   writer_thread_ = std::thread(&filesystem_writer_::writer_thread, this);
@@ -709,8 +700,8 @@ void filesystem_writer_<LoggerPolicy>::writer_thread() {
     // TODO: this may throw
     fsb->wait_until_compressed();
 
-    LOG_DEBUG << get_section_name(fsb->type()) << " [" << fsb->block_no()
-              << "] compressed from "
+    LOG_DEBUG << get_friendly_section_name(fsb->type()) << " ["
+              << fsb->block_no() << "] compressed from "
               << size_with_unit(fsb->uncompressed_size()) << " to "
               << size_with_unit(fsb->size()) << " [" << fsb->description()
               << "]";
@@ -767,7 +758,7 @@ template <typename LoggerPolicy>
 block_compressor const&
 filesystem_writer_<LoggerPolicy>::compressor_for_category(
     fragment_category::value_type cat) const {
-  if (auto it = bc_.find(cat); it != bc_.end()) {
+  if (auto it = category_bc_.find(cat); it != category_bc_.end()) {
     LOG_DEBUG << "using compressor (" << it->second.describe()
               << ") for category " << cat;
     return it->second;
@@ -840,8 +831,9 @@ void filesystem_writer_<LoggerPolicy>::finish_category(fragment_category cat) {
 
 template <typename LoggerPolicy>
 void filesystem_writer_<LoggerPolicy>::write_section_impl(
-    section_type type, std::shared_ptr<block_data>&& data,
-    block_compressor const& bc, std::optional<std::string> meta) {
+    section_type type, std::shared_ptr<block_data>&& data) {
+  auto& bc = get_compressor(type, std::nullopt);
+
   uint32_t number;
 
   {
@@ -855,7 +847,7 @@ void filesystem_writer_<LoggerPolicy>::write_section_impl(
 
     number = section_number_;
     fsb->set_block_no(section_number_++);
-    fsb->compress(wg_, meta);
+    fsb->compress(wg_);
 
     queue_.emplace_back(std::move(fsb));
   }
@@ -949,20 +941,62 @@ void filesystem_writer_<LoggerPolicy>::write_compressed_section(
 template <typename LoggerPolicy>
 void filesystem_writer_<LoggerPolicy>::add_default_compressor(
     block_compressor bc) {
+  DWARFS_CHECK(bc, "block_compressor must not be null");
+
+  LOG_DEBUG << "adding default compressor (" << bc.describe() << ")";
+
   if (default_bc_) {
     DWARFS_THROW(runtime_error, "default compressor registered more than once");
   }
+
   default_bc_ = std::move(bc);
 }
 
 template <typename LoggerPolicy>
 void filesystem_writer_<LoggerPolicy>::add_category_compressor(
     fragment_category::value_type cat, block_compressor bc) {
+  DWARFS_CHECK(bc, "block_compressor must not be null");
+
   LOG_DEBUG << "adding compressor (" << bc.describe() << ") for category "
             << cat;
-  if (!bc_.emplace(cat, std::move(bc)).second) {
-    DWARFS_THROW(runtime_error,
-                 "category compressor registered more than once");
+
+  if (!category_bc_.emplace(cat, std::move(bc)).second) {
+    DWARFS_THROW(
+        runtime_error,
+        fmt::format("compressor registered more than once for category {}",
+                    cat));
+  }
+}
+
+template <typename LoggerPolicy>
+void filesystem_writer_<LoggerPolicy>::add_section_compressor(
+    section_type type, block_compressor bc) {
+  DWARFS_CHECK(bc, "block_compressor must not be null");
+
+  LOG_DEBUG << "adding compressor (" << bc.describe() << ") for section type "
+            << get_friendly_section_name(type);
+
+  DWARFS_CHECK(type != section_type::SECTION_INDEX,
+               "SECTION_INDEX is always uncompressed");
+
+  if (auto reqstr = bc.metadata_requirements(); !reqstr.empty()) {
+    try {
+      auto req = compression_metadata_requirements<nlohmann::json>{reqstr};
+      req.check(std::nullopt);
+    } catch (std::exception const& e) {
+      auto msg =
+          fmt::format("cannot use '{}' for {} compression because compression "
+                      "metadata requirements are not met: {}",
+                      bc.describe(), get_friendly_section_name(type), e.what());
+      DWARFS_THROW(runtime_error, msg);
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (!section_bc_.emplace(type, std::move(bc)).second) {
+    DWARFS_THROW(
+        runtime_error,
+        fmt::format("compressor registered more than once for section type {}",
+                    get_friendly_section_name(type)));
   }
 }
 
@@ -976,22 +1010,14 @@ auto filesystem_writer_<LoggerPolicy>::get_compression_constraints(
 template <typename LoggerPolicy>
 block_compressor const& filesystem_writer_<LoggerPolicy>::get_compressor(
     section_type type, std::optional<fragment_category::value_type> cat) const {
-  switch (type) {
-  case section_type::METADATA_V2_SCHEMA:
-    return schema_bc_;
-
-  case section_type::METADATA_V2:
-    return metadata_bc_;
-
-  case section_type::HISTORY:
-    return history_bc_;
-
-  default:
-    break;
+  if (cat) {
+    DWARFS_CHECK(type == section_type::BLOCK,
+                 "category-specific compressors are only supported for blocks");
+    return compressor_for_category(*cat);
   }
 
-  if (cat) {
-    return compressor_for_category(*cat);
+  if (auto it = section_bc_.find(type); it != section_bc_.end()) {
+    return it->second;
   }
 
   return default_bc_.value();
@@ -1043,20 +1069,19 @@ void filesystem_writer_<LoggerPolicy>::write_block(
 template <typename LoggerPolicy>
 void filesystem_writer_<LoggerPolicy>::write_metadata_v2_schema(
     std::shared_ptr<block_data>&& data) {
-  write_section_impl(section_type::METADATA_V2_SCHEMA, std::move(data),
-                     schema_bc_);
+  write_section_impl(section_type::METADATA_V2_SCHEMA, std::move(data));
 }
 
 template <typename LoggerPolicy>
 void filesystem_writer_<LoggerPolicy>::write_metadata_v2(
     std::shared_ptr<block_data>&& data) {
-  write_section_impl(section_type::METADATA_V2, std::move(data), metadata_bc_);
+  write_section_impl(section_type::METADATA_V2, std::move(data));
 }
 
 template <typename LoggerPolicy>
 void filesystem_writer_<LoggerPolicy>::write_history(
     std::shared_ptr<block_data>&& data) {
-  write_section_impl(section_type::HISTORY, std::move(data), history_bc_);
+  write_section_impl(section_type::HISTORY, std::move(data));
 }
 
 template <typename LoggerPolicy>
@@ -1104,30 +1129,18 @@ void filesystem_writer_<LoggerPolicy>::write_section_index() {
 } // namespace internal
 
 filesystem_writer::filesystem_writer(std::ostream& os, logger& lgr,
-                                     thread_pool& pool, writer_progress& prog,
-                                     block_compressor const& bc)
-    : filesystem_writer(os, lgr, pool, prog, bc, bc, bc) {}
+                                     thread_pool& pool, writer_progress& prog)
+    : filesystem_writer(os, lgr, pool, prog, {}) {}
 
 filesystem_writer::filesystem_writer(std::ostream& os, logger& lgr,
                                      thread_pool& pool, writer_progress& prog,
-                                     block_compressor const& schema_bc,
-                                     block_compressor const& metadata_bc,
-                                     block_compressor const& history_bc)
-    : filesystem_writer(os, lgr, pool, prog, schema_bc, metadata_bc, history_bc,
-                        filesystem_writer_options{}) {}
-
-filesystem_writer::filesystem_writer(std::ostream& os, logger& lgr,
-                                     thread_pool& pool, writer_progress& prog,
-                                     block_compressor const& schema_bc,
-                                     block_compressor const& metadata_bc,
-                                     block_compressor const& history_bc,
                                      filesystem_writer_options const& options,
                                      std::istream* header)
     : impl_{make_unique_logging_object<internal::filesystem_writer_detail,
                                        internal::filesystem_writer_,
                                        logger_policies>(
-          lgr, os, pool.get_worker_group(), prog.get_internal(), schema_bc,
-          metadata_bc, history_bc, options, header)} {}
+          lgr, os, pool.get_worker_group(), prog.get_internal(), options,
+          header)} {}
 
 filesystem_writer::~filesystem_writer() = default;
 filesystem_writer::filesystem_writer(filesystem_writer&&) = default;
@@ -1142,4 +1155,9 @@ void filesystem_writer::add_category_compressor(
   impl_->add_category_compressor(cat, std::move(bc));
 }
 
+void filesystem_writer::add_section_compressor(section_type type,
+                                               block_compressor bc) {
+  impl_->add_section_compressor(type, std::move(bc));
+}
+
 } // namespace dwarfs::writer
diff --git a/test/compat_test.cpp b/test/compat_test.cpp
index 4e317eaf..980c8fb4 100644
--- a/test/compat_test.cpp
+++ b/test/compat_test.cpp
@@ -1137,7 +1137,7 @@ TEST_P(rewrite, filesystem_rewrite) {
   };
 
   {
-    writer::filesystem_writer fsw(rewritten, lgr, pool, prog, bc, bc, bc);
+    writer::filesystem_writer fsw(rewritten, lgr, pool, prog);
     fsw.add_default_compressor(bc);
     auto mm = std::make_shared<mmap>(filename);
     EXPECT_NO_THROW(reader::filesystem_v2::identify(lgr, os, mm, idss));
@@ -1159,8 +1159,8 @@ TEST_P(rewrite, filesystem_rewrite) {
   {
     std::istringstream hdr_iss(format_sh);
     writer::filesystem_writer_options fsw_opts;
-    writer::filesystem_writer fsw(rewritten, lgr, pool, prog, bc, bc, bc,
-                                  fsw_opts, &hdr_iss);
+    writer::filesystem_writer fsw(rewritten, lgr, pool, prog, fsw_opts,
+                                  &hdr_iss);
     fsw.add_default_compressor(bc);
     rewrite_fs(fsw, std::make_shared<mmap>(filename));
   }
@@ -1186,8 +1186,8 @@ TEST_P(rewrite, filesystem_rewrite) {
   {
     std::istringstream hdr_iss("D");
     writer::filesystem_writer_options fsw_opts;
-    writer::filesystem_writer fsw(rewritten2, lgr, pool, prog, bc, bc, bc,
-                                  fsw_opts, &hdr_iss);
+    writer::filesystem_writer fsw(rewritten2, lgr, pool, prog, fsw_opts,
+                                  &hdr_iss);
     fsw.add_default_compressor(bc);
     rewrite_fs(fsw, std::make_shared<test::mmap_mock>(rewritten.str()));
   }
@@ -1204,7 +1204,7 @@ TEST_P(rewrite, filesystem_rewrite) {
   std::ostringstream rewritten3;
 
   {
-    writer::filesystem_writer fsw(rewritten3, lgr, pool, prog, bc, bc, bc);
+    writer::filesystem_writer fsw(rewritten3, lgr, pool, prog);
     fsw.add_default_compressor(bc);
     rewrite_fs(fsw, std::make_shared<test::mmap_mock>(rewritten2.str()));
   }
@@ -1223,8 +1223,7 @@ TEST_P(rewrite, filesystem_rewrite) {
   {
     writer::filesystem_writer_options fsw_opts;
     fsw_opts.remove_header = true;
-    writer::filesystem_writer fsw(rewritten4, lgr, pool, prog, bc, bc, bc,
-                                  fsw_opts);
+    writer::filesystem_writer fsw(rewritten4, lgr, pool, prog, fsw_opts);
     fsw.add_default_compressor(bc);
     rewrite_fs(fsw, std::make_shared<test::mmap_mock>(rewritten3.str()));
   }
@@ -1243,8 +1242,7 @@ TEST_P(rewrite, filesystem_rewrite) {
   {
     writer::filesystem_writer_options fsw_opts;
     fsw_opts.no_section_index = true;
-    writer::filesystem_writer fsw(rewritten5, lgr, pool, prog, bc, bc, bc,
-                                  fsw_opts);
+    writer::filesystem_writer fsw(rewritten5, lgr, pool, prog, fsw_opts);
     fsw.add_default_compressor(bc);
     rewrite_fs(fsw, std::make_shared<test::mmap_mock>(rewritten4.str()));
   }
diff --git a/test/dwarfs_benchmark.cpp b/test/dwarfs_benchmark.cpp
index a00fdd01..af861d92 100644
--- a/test/dwarfs_benchmark.cpp
+++ b/test/dwarfs_benchmark.cpp
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ std::string make_filesystem(::benchmark::State const& state) {
   std::ostringstream oss;
 
   block_compressor bc("null");
-  writer::filesystem_writer fsw(oss, lgr, pool, prog, bc, bc, bc);
+  writer::filesystem_writer fsw(oss, lgr, pool, prog);
   fsw.add_default_compressor(bc);
 
   s.scan(fsw, "", prog);
diff --git a/test/dwarfs_test.cpp b/test/dwarfs_test.cpp
index 8ae02ee9..a9a9cde5 100644
--- a/test/dwarfs_test.cpp
+++ b/test/dwarfs_test.cpp
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ build_dwarfs(logger& lgr, std::shared_ptr<test::os_access_mock> input,
   std::ostringstream oss;
 
   block_compressor bc(compression);
-  writer::filesystem_writer fsw(oss, lgr, pool, *prog, bc, bc, bc);
+  writer::filesystem_writer fsw(oss, lgr, pool, *prog);
   fsw.add_default_compressor(bc);
 
   s.scan(fsw, std::filesystem::path("/"), *prog, input_list);
@@ -992,7 +992,8 @@ class filter_test
 
     block_compressor bc("null");
     std::ostringstream null;
-    writer::filesystem_writer fsw(null, lgr, pool, prog, bc, bc, bc);
+    writer::filesystem_writer fsw(null, lgr, pool, prog);
+    fsw.add_default_compressor(bc);
     s.scan(fsw, std::filesystem::path("/"), prog);
 
     return oss.str();
diff --git a/test/filesystem_writer_test.cpp b/test/filesystem_writer_test.cpp
index 4842e00b..252ca6ec 100644
--- a/test/filesystem_writer_test.cpp
+++ b/test/filesystem_writer_test.cpp
@@ -48,15 +48,15 @@ TEST(filesystem_writer, compression_metadata_requirements) {
 
   block_compressor bcnull("null");
 
-  EXPECT_NO_THROW(
-      filesystem_writer(devnull, lgr, pool, prog, bcnull, bcnull, bcnull));
+  EXPECT_NO_THROW(filesystem_writer(devnull, lgr, pool, prog));
 
 #ifdef DWARFS_HAVE_FLAC
   block_compressor bcflac("flac:level=1");
 
   EXPECT_THAT(
       [&] {
-        filesystem_writer(devnull, lgr, pool, prog, bcflac, bcnull, bcnull);
+        auto fsw = filesystem_writer(devnull, lgr, pool, prog);
+        fsw.add_section_compressor(section_type::METADATA_V2_SCHEMA, bcflac);
       },
       testing::ThrowsMessage<dwarfs::runtime_error>(testing::HasSubstr(
           "cannot use 'flac [level=1]' for schema compression because "
@@ -65,7 +65,8 @@ TEST(filesystem_writer, compression_metadata_requirements) {
 
   EXPECT_THAT(
       [&] {
-        filesystem_writer(devnull, lgr, pool, prog, bcnull, bcflac, bcnull);
+        auto fsw = filesystem_writer(devnull, lgr, pool, prog);
+        fsw.add_section_compressor(section_type::METADATA_V2, bcflac);
       },
       testing::ThrowsMessage<dwarfs::runtime_error>(testing::HasSubstr(
           "cannot use 'flac [level=1]' for metadata compression because "
@@ -74,7 +75,8 @@ TEST(filesystem_writer, compression_metadata_requirements) {
 
   EXPECT_THAT(
       [&] {
-        filesystem_writer(devnull, lgr, pool, prog, bcnull, bcnull, bcflac);
+        auto fsw = filesystem_writer(devnull, lgr, pool, prog);
+        fsw.add_section_compressor(section_type::HISTORY, bcflac);
       },
       testing::ThrowsMessage<dwarfs::runtime_error>(testing::HasSubstr(
           "cannot use 'flac [level=1]' for history compression because "
@@ -87,7 +89,8 @@ TEST(filesystem_writer, compression_metadata_requirements) {
 
   EXPECT_THAT(
       [&] {
-        filesystem_writer(devnull, lgr, pool, prog, bcrice, bcnull, bcnull);
+        auto fsw = filesystem_writer(devnull, lgr, pool, prog);
+        fsw.add_section_compressor(section_type::METADATA_V2_SCHEMA, bcrice);
       },
       testing::ThrowsMessage<dwarfs::runtime_error>(testing::HasSubstr(
           "cannot use 'ricepp [block_size=128]' for schema compression because "
@@ -96,7 +99,8 @@ TEST(filesystem_writer, compression_metadata_requirements) {
 
   EXPECT_THAT(
       [&] {
-        filesystem_writer(devnull, lgr, pool, prog, bcnull, bcrice, bcnull);
+        auto fsw = filesystem_writer(devnull, lgr, pool, prog);
+        fsw.add_section_compressor(section_type::METADATA_V2, bcrice);
       },
       testing::ThrowsMessage<dwarfs::runtime_error>(testing::HasSubstr(
           "cannot use 'ricepp [block_size=128]' for metadata compression "
@@ -106,7 +110,8 @@ TEST(filesystem_writer, compression_metadata_requirements) {
 
   EXPECT_THAT(
       [&] {
-        filesystem_writer(devnull, lgr, pool, prog, bcnull, bcnull, bcrice);
+        auto fsw = filesystem_writer(devnull, lgr, pool, prog);
+        fsw.add_section_compressor(section_type::HISTORY, bcrice);
       },
       testing::ThrowsMessage<dwarfs::runtime_error>(testing::HasSubstr(
           "cannot use 'ricepp [block_size=128]' for history compression "
diff --git a/tools/src/mkdwarfs_main.cpp b/tools/src/mkdwarfs_main.cpp
index 72ca634d..e6eef550 100644
--- a/tools/src/mkdwarfs_main.cpp
+++ b/tools/src/mkdwarfs_main.cpp
@@ -1286,8 +1286,12 @@ int mkdwarfs_main(int argc, sys_char** argv, iolayer const& iol) {
               },
               [&](std::ostringstream& oss) -> std::ostream& { return oss; }};
 
-    fsw.emplace(fsw_os, lgr, compress_pool, prog, schema_bc, metadata_bc,
-                history_bc, fswopts, header_ifs ? &header_ifs->is() : nullptr);
+    fsw.emplace(fsw_os, lgr, compress_pool, prog, fswopts,
+                header_ifs ? &header_ifs->is() : nullptr);
+
+    fsw->add_section_compressor(section_type::METADATA_V2_SCHEMA, schema_bc);
+    fsw->add_section_compressor(section_type::METADATA_V2, metadata_bc);
+    fsw->add_section_compressor(section_type::HISTORY, history_bc);
 
     writer::categorized_option<block_compressor> compression_opt;
     writer::contextual_option_parser cop("--compression", compression_opt, cp,