diff --git a/pycompile b/pycompile
index 56c572fe851d4ea5dd098c46729fc580f01e52e5..bcf2a9cdf7d9d8d46897f24f50e2a72fd6e03354 100755
--- a/pycompile
+++ b/pycompile
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ def compile(files, versions, force, lazy, optimize, e_patterns=None):
                 pipe = STDINS[version]
             except KeyError:
                 # `pycompile /usr/lib/` invoked, add missing worker
-                pipe = py_compile(version, WORKERS)
+                pipe = py_compile(version, optimize, WORKERS)
                 pipe.next()
                 STDINS[version] = pipe
             pipe.send(fn)