diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/mc_from_config.yml b/changelogs/fragments/mc_from_config.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..df31596f271
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/mc_from_config.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+minor_changes:
+  - module compression is now sourced directly via config, bypassing play_context possibly stale values.
diff --git a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/__init__.py
index 5ded3a8aa36..39c6722152c 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/plugins/action/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/plugins/action/__init__.py
@@ -296,7 +296,8 @@ class ActionBase(ABC):
             try:
                 (module_data, module_style, module_shebang) = modify_module(module_name, module_path, module_args, self._templar,
                                                                             task_vars=use_vars,
-                                                                            module_compression=self._play_context.module_compression,
+                                                                            module_compression=C.config.get_config_value('DEFAULT_MODULE_COMPRESSION',
+                                                                                                                         variables=task_vars),
                                                                             async_timeout=self._task.async_val,
                                                                             environment=final_environment,
                                                                             remote_is_local=bool(getattr(self._connection, '_remote_is_local', False)),