diff --git a/ethcore/src/client/client.rs b/ethcore/src/client/client.rs
index 4ccfb7360..b69558d52 100644
--- a/ethcore/src/client/client.rs
+++ b/ethcore/src/client/client.rs
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ use filter::Filter;
 use log_entry::LocalizedLogEntry;
 use block_queue::{BlockQueue, BlockQueueInfo};
 use blockchain::{BlockChain, BlockProvider, TreeRoute, ImportRoute};
-use client::{BlockID, TransactionID, UncleID, TraceId, ClientConfig, BlockChainClient, MiningBlockChainClient, TraceFilter, CallAnalytics};
+use client::{BlockID, TransactionID, UncleID, TraceId, ClientConfig, DatabaseCompactionProfile, BlockChainClient, MiningBlockChainClient, TraceFilter, CallAnalytics};
 use client::Error as ClientError;
 use env_info::EnvInfo;
 use executive::{Executive, Executed, TransactOptions, contract_address};
@@ -146,10 +146,19 @@ impl<V> Client<V> where V: Verifier {
 		let chain = Arc::new(BlockChain::new(config.blockchain, &gb, &path));
 		let tracedb = Arc::new(try!(TraceDB::new(config.tracing, &path, chain.clone())));
 
+		let mut state_db_config = match config.db_cache_size {
+			None => DatabaseConfig::default(),
+			Some(cache_size) => DatabaseConfig::with_cache(cache_size),
+		};
+
+		if config.db_compaction == DatabaseCompactionProfile::HDD {
+			state_db_config = state_db_config.compaction(CompactionProfile::hdd());
+		}
+
 		let mut state_db = journaldb::new(
 			&append_path(&path, "state"),
 			config.pruning,
-			config.db_cache_size);
+			state_db_config);
 
 		if state_db.is_empty() && spec.ensure_db_good(state_db.as_hashdb_mut()) {
 			state_db.commit(0, &spec.genesis_header().hash(), None).expect("Error commiting genesis state to state DB");
diff --git a/ethcore/src/client/config.rs b/ethcore/src/client/config.rs
index 6353e324f..7d7f8e524 100644
--- a/ethcore/src/client/config.rs
+++ b/ethcore/src/client/config.rs
@@ -20,6 +20,19 @@ pub use trace::{Config as TraceConfig, Switch};
 pub use evm::VMType;
 use util::journaldb;
 
+/// Client state db compaction profile
+#[derive(Debug, PartialEq)]
+pub enum DatabaseCompactionProfile {
+	/// Default compaction profile
+	Default,
+	/// HDD or other slow storage io compaction profile
+	HDD,
+}
+
+impl Default for DatabaseCompactionProfile {
+	fn default() -> Self { DatabaseCompactionProfile::Default }
+}
+
 /// Client configuration. Includes configs for all sub-systems.
 #[derive(Debug, Default)]
 pub struct ClientConfig {
@@ -37,4 +50,6 @@ pub struct ClientConfig {
 	pub name: String,
 	/// State db cache-size if not default
 	pub db_cache_size: Option<usize>,
+	/// State db compaction profile
+	pub db_compaction: DatabaseCompactionProfile,
 }
diff --git a/ethcore/src/client/mod.rs b/ethcore/src/client/mod.rs
index 80625ad85..4ba22c1ed 100644
--- a/ethcore/src/client/mod.rs
+++ b/ethcore/src/client/mod.rs
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ mod test_client;
 mod trace;
 
 pub use self::client::*;
-pub use self::config::{ClientConfig, BlockQueueConfig, BlockChainConfig, Switch, VMType};
+pub use self::config::{ClientConfig, DatabaseCompactionProfile, BlockQueueConfig, BlockChainConfig, Switch, VMType};
 pub use self::error::Error;
 pub use types::ids::*;
 pub use self::test_client::{TestBlockChainClient, EachBlockWith};
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ pub trait BlockChainClient : Sync + Send {
 		} else {
 			None
 		}
-	}	
+	}
 }
 
 /// Extended client interface used for mining
diff --git a/parity/cli.rs b/parity/cli.rs
index 29333fe9a..c42719cc6 100644
--- a/parity/cli.rs
+++ b/parity/cli.rs
@@ -170,7 +170,13 @@ Footprint Options:
   --cache MEGABYTES        Set total amount of discretionary memory to use for
                            the entire system, overrides other cache and queue
                            options.
-  --db-cache-size MB       Database cache size.
+
+Database Options:
+  --db-cache-size MB       Database cache size. Default if not specified.
+  --db-compaction TYPE     Database compaction type. TYPE may be one of default, hdd
+                           default - suitable for ssd backing storage/fast hdd
+                           hdd - sutable for slow storage
+                           [default: default].
 
 Import/Export Options:
   --from BLOCK             Export from block BLOCK, which may be an index or
@@ -323,6 +329,7 @@ pub struct Args {
 	pub flag_ipcpath: Option<String>,
 	pub flag_ipcapi: Option<String>,
 	pub flag_db_cache_size: Option<usize>,
+	pub flag_db_compaction: String,
 }
 
 pub fn print_version() {
diff --git a/parity/configuration.rs b/parity/configuration.rs
index 43a7fcd3c..8a11ebf4d 100644
--- a/parity/configuration.rs
+++ b/parity/configuration.rs
@@ -278,6 +278,13 @@ impl Configuration {
 		// forced state db cache size if provided
 		client_config.db_cache_size = self.args.flag_db_cache_size.and_then(|cs| Some(cs / 4));
 
+		// compaction profile
+		client_config.db_compaction_profile = match self.args.flag_db_compaction.as_str() {
+			"default" => DatabaseCompactionProfile::Default,
+			"hdd" => DatabaseCompactionProfile::HDD,
+			_ => { die!("Invalid compaction profile given (--db-compaction argument), expected hdd/default."); }
+		};
+
 		if self.args.flag_jitvm {
 			client_config.vm_type = VMType::jit().unwrap_or_else(|| die!("Parity built without jit vm."))
 		}
diff --git a/util/src/kvdb.rs b/util/src/kvdb.rs
index 9cf4313f2..4e7bdb26c 100644
--- a/util/src/kvdb.rs
+++ b/util/src/kvdb.rs
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ impl CompactionProfile {
 	}
 
 	/// Slow hdd compaction profile
-	pub fn hdd(&self) -> CompactionProfile {
+	pub fn hdd() -> CompactionProfile {
 		CompactionProfile {
 			initial_file_size: 192 * 1024 * 1024,
 			file_size_multiplier: 1,