diff --git a/packages/babel-generator/src/printer.js b/packages/babel-generator/src/printer.js
index 33f15d2325..5290c66e73 100644
--- a/packages/babel-generator/src/printer.js
+++ b/packages/babel-generator/src/printer.js
@@ -231,7 +231,8 @@ export default class Printer extends Buffer {
     if (this.format.shouldPrintComment) {
       return this.format.shouldPrintComment(comment.value);
     } else {
-      if (comment.value.indexOf("@license") >= 0 || comment.value.indexOf("@preserve") >= 0) {
+      if (!this.format.compact &&
+          (comment.value.indexOf("@license") >= 0 || comment.value.indexOf("@preserve") >= 0)) {
         return true;
       } else {
         return this.format.comments;