diff --git a/worker/backup_processor.go b/worker/backup_processor.go
index f8a0369d522..8433159f2bf 100644
--- a/worker/backup_processor.go
+++ b/worker/backup_processor.go
@@ -122,9 +122,12 @@ func (pr *BackupProcessor) WriteBackup(ctx context.Context) (*pb.BackupResponse,
 
 	newhandler, err := enc.GetWriter(x.WorkerConfig.EncryptionKey, handler)
 	if err != nil {
-		return &response, err
+		return &response, errors.Wrap(err, "failed to get encWriter")
+	}
+	gzWriter, err := gzip.NewWriterLevel(newhandler, gzip.BestSpeed)
+	if err != nil {
+		return &response, errors.Wrap(err, "failed to create new gzip writer")
 	}
-	gzWriter := gzip.NewWriter(newhandler)
 
 	stream := pr.DB.NewStreamAt(pr.Request.ReadTs)
 	stream.LogPrefix = "Dgraph.Backup"
diff --git a/worker/export.go b/worker/export.go
index 53213bcf3b0..82e10c1b70c 100644
--- a/worker/export.go
+++ b/worker/export.go
@@ -369,7 +369,7 @@ func (writer *fileWriter) open(fpath string) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	writer.gw, err = gzip.NewWriterLevel(w, gzip.BestCompression)
+	writer.gw, err = gzip.NewWriterLevel(w, gzip.BestSpeed)
 	return err
 }