diff --git a/db/db_impl.cc b/db/db_impl.cc
index 8815c7b17..50677200c 100644
--- a/db/db_impl.cc
+++ b/db/db_impl.cc
@@ -197,6 +197,10 @@ DBOptions SanitizeOptions(const std::string& dbname, const DBOptions& src) {
     result.db_paths.emplace_back(dbname, std::numeric_limits<uint64_t>::max());
   }
 
+  if (result.use_direct_reads && result.compaction_readahead_size == 0) {
+    result.compaction_readahead_size = 1024 * 1024 * 2;
+  }
+
   if (result.compaction_readahead_size > 0) {
     result.new_table_reader_for_compaction_inputs = true;
   }