diff --git a/cmd/skopeo/copy.go b/cmd/skopeo/copy.go
index fc6507ca..e6cafaef 100644
--- a/cmd/skopeo/copy.go
+++ b/cmd/skopeo/copy.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/containers/image/v5/transports/alltransports"
 	encconfig "github.com/containers/ocicrypt/config"
 	enchelpers "github.com/containers/ocicrypt/helpers"
+	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 )
 
@@ -260,6 +261,15 @@ func (opts *copyOptions) run(args []string, stdout io.Writer) (retErr error) {
 		}
 	}
 
+	if destRef.Transport().Name() != "dir" {
+		if opts.destImage.dirForceCompression {
+			logrus.Warn("--dest-compress can only be used if the destination transport is 'dir'")
+		}
+		if opts.destImage.dirForceDecompression {
+			logrus.Warn("--dest-decompress can only be used if the destination transport is 'dir'")
+		}
+	}
+
 	return retry.IfNecessary(ctx, func() error {
 		manifestBytes, err := copy.Image(ctx, policyContext, destRef, srcRef, &copy.Options{
 			RemoveSignatures:                 opts.removeSignatures,
diff --git a/systemtest/020-copy.bats b/systemtest/020-copy.bats
index f1c2763f..7ab3e65f 100644
--- a/systemtest/020-copy.bats
+++ b/systemtest/020-copy.bats
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ function setup() {
 
     local dir=$TESTDIR/dir
 
-    run_skopeo copy --dest-compress --dest-compress-format=zstd $remote_image oci:$dir:latest
+    run_skopeo copy --dest-compress-format=zstd $remote_image oci:$dir:latest
 
     # zstd magic number
     local magic=$(printf "\x28\xb5\x2f\xfd")