diff --git a/rtengine/procparams.cc b/rtengine/procparams.cc
index 9a52b4f5b..c58306e48 100644
--- a/rtengine/procparams.cc
+++ b/rtengine/procparams.cc
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ void ProcParams::setDefaults () {
     toneCurve.brightness    = 0;
     toneCurve.contrast      = 0;
     toneCurve.black         = 0;
-    toneCurve.hlcompr       = 85;
+    toneCurve.hlcompr       = 70;
     toneCurve.shcompr       = 85;
     toneCurve.curve.clear ();
     
diff --git a/rtgui/tonecurve.cc b/rtgui/tonecurve.cc
index 5ac382870..fed471bb1 100644
--- a/rtgui/tonecurve.cc
+++ b/rtgui/tonecurve.cc
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ ToneCurve::ToneCurve () : ToolPanel(), expAdd(false), blackAdd(false), brAdd(fal
 //----------- Exposure Compensation ------------------------
   expcomp   = Gtk::manage (new Adjuster (M("TP_EXPOSURE_EXPCOMP"), -5, 5, 0.01, 0));
   pack_start (*expcomp);
-  hlcompr = Gtk::manage (new Adjuster (M("TP_EXPOSURE_COMPRHIGHLIGHTS"), 0, 100, 1, 100));
+  hlcompr = Gtk::manage (new Adjuster (M("TP_EXPOSURE_COMPRHIGHLIGHTS"), 0, 100, 1, 70));
   pack_start (*hlcompr);
 
 //----------- Black Level ----------------------------------