Index: oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/plugins/document/persistentCache/PersistentCache.java
===================================================================
--- oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/plugins/document/persistentCache/PersistentCache.java	(revision 1676414)
+++ oak-core/src/main/java/org/apache/jackrabbit/oak/plugins/document/persistentCache/PersistentCache.java	(working copy)
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@
     private boolean cacheDiff = true;
     private boolean cacheDocs;
     private boolean cacheDocChildren;
-    private boolean compactOnClose = true;
+    private boolean compactOnClose = false;
     private boolean compress = true;
     private ArrayList<GenerationCache> caches = 
             new ArrayList<GenerationCache>();
@@ -87,6 +87,8 @@
                 cacheDocChildren = true;
             } else if (p.equals("-compact")) {
                 compactOnClose = false;
+            } else if (p.equals("+compact")) {
+                compactOnClose = true;
             } else if (p.equals("-compress")) {
                 compress = false;
             } else if (p.endsWith("time")) {
Index: oak-doc/src/site/markdown/nodestore/persistent-cache.md
===================================================================
--- oak-doc/src/site/markdown/nodestore/persistent-cache.md	(revision 1676414)
+++ oak-doc/src/site/markdown/nodestore/persistent-cache.md	(working copy)
@@ -70,10 +70,10 @@
 * Diff caching. By default, the list of differences between two
 revisions is cached. To disable this option, use "-diff".
 
-* Compaction. By default, when a cache file is closed, 
-it is compacted and compressed (at a rate of around 100 MB per second).
+* Compaction. The cache file can be compacted and compressed (at a rate of
+around 100 MB per second) when it is closed.
 That way, the disk space is used more efficiently. 
-To disable this option, use "-compact".
+To enable this option, use "+compact".
 
 * Compression. By default, the cache is compressed, saving space. 
 To disable this option, use "-compress".