diff --git a/WHATSNEW b/WHATSNEW
index b8c4b4ba6..ff59e6314 100644
--- a/WHATSNEW
+++ b/WHATSNEW
@@ -23,6 +23,10 @@ Fixed bugs:
    instead of a IllegalStateException in the absence of the "id" attribute.
    Bugzilla Report 62655
 
+ * org.apache.tools.zip.ZipOutputStream would sometimes potentially use
+   an incorrect compression level for a zip entry. This is now fixed.
+   Bugzilla Report 62686
+
 Other changes:
 --------------
  * generatekey task now supports SubjectAlternativeName during key
diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/zip/ZipOutputStream.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/zip/ZipOutputStream.java
index 14dc92c95..025407b41 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/zip/ZipOutputStream.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/zip/ZipOutputStream.java
@@ -867,7 +867,10 @@ public class ZipOutputStream extends FilterOutputStream {
             throw new IllegalArgumentException("Invalid compression level: "
                                                + level);
         }
-        hasCompressionLevelChanged = (this.level != level);
+        if (this.level == level) {
+            return;
+        }
+        hasCompressionLevelChanged = true;
         this.level = level;
     }