diff --git a/src/mem/cache/base.cc b/src/mem/cache/base.cc
index fcf0374..ebfb092 100644
--- a/src/mem/cache/base.cc
+++ b/src/mem/cache/base.cc
@@ -1413,7 +1413,7 @@
     // compressor is used, the compression/decompression methods are called to
     // calculate the amount of extra cycles needed to read or write compressed
     // blocks.
-    if (compressor) {
+    if (compressor && pkt->hasData()) {
         compressor->compress(pkt->getConstPtr<uint64_t>(), compression_lat,
                              decompression_lat, blk_size_bits);
     }