diff --git a/sys/src/cmd/upas/misc/mail b/sys/src/cmd/upas/misc/mail
index 6913d743e..fdf3a0f77 100755
--- a/sys/src/cmd/upas/misc/mail
+++ b/sys/src/cmd/upas/misc/mail
@@ -8,5 +8,5 @@ switch($1){
 case -f* -r* -c* -m*
 	exec upas/nedmail $*
 case *
-	exec upas/marshal $*
+	exec upas/marshal -8 $*
 }