zlib is now optional.

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d5f7065e7b203748b459a2966cb26aa094a2f47a..e9ee372ca330bbc5a0f8898e933dcd0535e8d666 100644 (file)
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -27,7 +27,11 @@ Stable release tarballs are available from a number of [download mirrors](https:
 
 ### Dependencies
 
-Portable OpenSSH is built using autoconf and make. It requires a working C compiler, standard library and headers, and [zlib](https://www.zlib.net/). ``libcrypto`` from either [LibreSSL](https://www.libressl.org/) or [OpenSSL](https://www.openssl.org) may also be used, but OpenSSH may be built without it supporting a subset of crypto algorithms.
+Portable OpenSSH is built using autoconf and make. It requires a working C compiler, standard library and headers.
+
+``libcrypto`` from either [LibreSSL](https://www.libressl.org/) or [OpenSSL](https://www.openssl.org) may also be used, but OpenSSH may be built without it supporting a subset of crypto algorithms.
+
+[zlib](https://www.zlib.net/) is optional; without it transport compression is not supported.
 
 FIDO security token support needs [libfido2](https://github.com/Yubico/libfido2) and its dependencies. Also, certain platforms and build-time options may require additional dependencies; see README.platform for details.