diff --git a/build/autotools/Makefile.am.release b/build/autotools/Makefile.am.release
index 11b146150..bb3a8ef06 100644
--- a/build/autotools/Makefile.am.release
+++ b/build/autotools/Makefile.am.release
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ RELEASE_URL      = $(RELEASE_URL_BASE)/$(COGL_1_MAJOR_VERSION).$(COGL_1_MINOR_VE
 RELEASE_ANNOUNCE_LIST = cogl@lists.freedesktop.org
 RELEASE_ANNOUNCE_CC   = gnome-announce-list@gnome.org clutter-announce@clutter-project.org
 
-tar_file    = $(distdir).tar.bz2
+tar_file    = $(distdir).tar.xz
 sha256_file = $(distdir).sha256sum
 
 $(sha256_file): $(tar_file)
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 488832d42..aa2712bd3 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ AC_SUBST([WAYLAND_SERVER_REQ_VERSION], [wayland_server_req_version])
 cflags_set=${CFLAGS+set}
 
 AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([1.11 foreign -Wno-portability no-define no-dist-gzip
-                  dist-bzip2 tar-ustar])
+                  dist-xz tar-ustar])
 AM_SILENT_RULES([yes])
 
 AH_BOTTOM([#include "config-custom.h"])