diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 48839b544..2e7e85298 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -692,10 +692,10 @@ ac_user_opts='
 enable_option_checking
 with_extra_version
 enable_coverage
-with_lz4
-with_zstd
 with_libcurl
 with_reports_hostname
+with_lz4
+with_zstd
 '
       ac_precious_vars='build_alias
 host_alias
@@ -1335,13 +1335,13 @@ Optional Packages:
   --without-PACKAGE       do not use PACKAGE (same as --with-PACKAGE=no)
   --with-extra-version=STRING
                           append STRING to version
-  --with-lz4              use lz4
-  --with-zstd             use zstd
   --without-libcurl       do not use libcurl for anonymous statistics
                           collection
   --with-reports-hostname=HOSTNAME
                           Use HOSTNAME as hostname for statistics collection
                           and update checks
+  --without-lz4           do not use lz4
+  --without-zstd          do not use zstd
 
 Some influential environment variables:
   PG_CONFIG   Location to find pg_config for target PostgreSQL instalation
@@ -4361,190 +4361,6 @@ if test "$enable_coverage" = yes; then
     CITUS_LDFLAGS="$CITUS_LDFLAGS --coverage"
 fi
 
-#
-# LZ4
-#
-
-
-
-# Check whether --with-lz4 was given.
-if test "${with_lz4+set}" = set; then :
-  withval=$with_lz4;
-  case $withval in
-    yes)
-      :
-      ;;
-    no)
-      :
-      ;;
-    *)
-      as_fn_error $? "no argument expected for --with-lz4 option" "$LINENO" 5
-      ;;
-  esac
-
-else
-  with_lz4=no
-
-fi
-
-
-
-
-if test "$with_lz4" = yes; then
-  { $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: checking for LZ4_compress_default in -llz4" >&5
-$as_echo_n "checking for LZ4_compress_default in -llz4... " >&6; }
-if ${ac_cv_lib_lz4_LZ4_compress_default+:} false; then :
-  $as_echo_n "(cached) " >&6
-else
-  ac_check_lib_save_LIBS=$LIBS
-LIBS="-llz4  $LIBS"
-cat confdefs.h - <<_ACEOF >conftest.$ac_ext
-/* end confdefs.h.  */
-
-/* Override any GCC internal prototype to avoid an error.
-   Use char because int might match the return type of a GCC
-   builtin and then its argument prototype would still apply.  */
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-extern "C"
-#endif
-char LZ4_compress_default ();
-int
-main ()
-{
-return LZ4_compress_default ();
-  ;
-  return 0;
-}
-_ACEOF
-if ac_fn_c_try_link "$LINENO"; then :
-  ac_cv_lib_lz4_LZ4_compress_default=yes
-else
-  ac_cv_lib_lz4_LZ4_compress_default=no
-fi
-rm -f core conftest.err conftest.$ac_objext \
-    conftest$ac_exeext conftest.$ac_ext
-LIBS=$ac_check_lib_save_LIBS
-fi
-{ $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: result: $ac_cv_lib_lz4_LZ4_compress_default" >&5
-$as_echo "$ac_cv_lib_lz4_LZ4_compress_default" >&6; }
-if test "x$ac_cv_lib_lz4_LZ4_compress_default" = xyes; then :
-  cat >>confdefs.h <<_ACEOF
-#define HAVE_LIBLZ4 1
-_ACEOF
-
-  LIBS="-llz4 $LIBS"
-
-else
-  as_fn_error $? "lz4 library not found
-If you have lz4 installed, see config.log for details on the
-failure.  It is possible the compiler isn't looking in the proper directory.
-Use --without-lz4 to disable zlib support." "$LINENO" 5
-fi
-
-  ac_fn_c_check_header_mongrel "$LINENO" "lz4.h" "ac_cv_header_lz4_h" "$ac_includes_default"
-if test "x$ac_cv_header_lz4_h" = xyes; then :
-
-else
-  as_fn_error $? "lz4 header not found
-If you have lz4 already installed, see config.log for details on the
-failure.  It is possible the compiler isn't looking in the proper directory.
-Use --without-lz4 to disable lz4 support." "$LINENO" 5
-fi
-
-
-fi
-
-#
-# ZSTD
-#
-
-
-
-# Check whether --with-zstd was given.
-if test "${with_zstd+set}" = set; then :
-  withval=$with_zstd;
-  case $withval in
-    yes)
-      :
-      ;;
-    no)
-      :
-      ;;
-    *)
-      as_fn_error $? "no argument expected for --with-zstd option" "$LINENO" 5
-      ;;
-  esac
-
-else
-  with_zstd=no
-
-fi
-
-
-
-
-if test "$with_zstd" = yes; then
-  { $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: checking for ZSTD_decompress in -lzstd" >&5
-$as_echo_n "checking for ZSTD_decompress in -lzstd... " >&6; }
-if ${ac_cv_lib_zstd_ZSTD_decompress+:} false; then :
-  $as_echo_n "(cached) " >&6
-else
-  ac_check_lib_save_LIBS=$LIBS
-LIBS="-lzstd  $LIBS"
-cat confdefs.h - <<_ACEOF >conftest.$ac_ext
-/* end confdefs.h.  */
-
-/* Override any GCC internal prototype to avoid an error.
-   Use char because int might match the return type of a GCC
-   builtin and then its argument prototype would still apply.  */
-#ifdef __cplusplus
-extern "C"
-#endif
-char ZSTD_decompress ();
-int
-main ()
-{
-return ZSTD_decompress ();
-  ;
-  return 0;
-}
-_ACEOF
-if ac_fn_c_try_link "$LINENO"; then :
-  ac_cv_lib_zstd_ZSTD_decompress=yes
-else
-  ac_cv_lib_zstd_ZSTD_decompress=no
-fi
-rm -f core conftest.err conftest.$ac_objext \
-    conftest$ac_exeext conftest.$ac_ext
-LIBS=$ac_check_lib_save_LIBS
-fi
-{ $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: result: $ac_cv_lib_zstd_ZSTD_decompress" >&5
-$as_echo "$ac_cv_lib_zstd_ZSTD_decompress" >&6; }
-if test "x$ac_cv_lib_zstd_ZSTD_decompress" = xyes; then :
-  cat >>confdefs.h <<_ACEOF
-#define HAVE_LIBZSTD 1
-_ACEOF
-
-  LIBS="-lzstd $LIBS"
-
-else
-  as_fn_error $? "zstd library not found
-If you have zstd installed, see config.log for details on the
-failure.  It is possible the compiler isn't looking in the proper directory." "$LINENO" 5
-fi
-
-  ac_fn_c_check_header_mongrel "$LINENO" "zstd.h" "ac_cv_header_zstd_h" "$ac_includes_default"
-if test "x$ac_cv_header_zstd_h" = xyes; then :
-
-else
-  as_fn_error $? "zstd header not found
-If you have lz4zstd already installed, see config.log for details on the
-failure.  It is possible the compiler isn't looking in the proper directory." "$LINENO" 5
-fi
-
-
-fi
-
 #
 # libcurl
 #
@@ -4681,6 +4497,196 @@ else
 $as_echo "$as_me: postgres version does not support table access methodds" >&6;}
 fi;
 
+# Require lz4 & zstd only if we are compiling columnar
+if test "$HAS_TABLEAM" == 'yes'; then
+  #
+  # LZ4
+  #
+
+
+
+# Check whether --with-lz4 was given.
+if test "${with_lz4+set}" = set; then :
+  withval=$with_lz4;
+  case $withval in
+    yes)
+      :
+      ;;
+    no)
+      :
+      ;;
+    *)
+      as_fn_error $? "no argument expected for --with-lz4 option" "$LINENO" 5
+      ;;
+  esac
+
+else
+  with_lz4=yes
+
+fi
+
+
+
+
+  if test "$with_lz4" = yes; then
+    { $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: checking for LZ4_compress_default in -llz4" >&5
+$as_echo_n "checking for LZ4_compress_default in -llz4... " >&6; }
+if ${ac_cv_lib_lz4_LZ4_compress_default+:} false; then :
+  $as_echo_n "(cached) " >&6
+else
+  ac_check_lib_save_LIBS=$LIBS
+LIBS="-llz4  $LIBS"
+cat confdefs.h - <<_ACEOF >conftest.$ac_ext
+/* end confdefs.h.  */
+
+/* Override any GCC internal prototype to avoid an error.
+   Use char because int might match the return type of a GCC
+   builtin and then its argument prototype would still apply.  */
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+extern "C"
+#endif
+char LZ4_compress_default ();
+int
+main ()
+{
+return LZ4_compress_default ();
+  ;
+  return 0;
+}
+_ACEOF
+if ac_fn_c_try_link "$LINENO"; then :
+  ac_cv_lib_lz4_LZ4_compress_default=yes
+else
+  ac_cv_lib_lz4_LZ4_compress_default=no
+fi
+rm -f core conftest.err conftest.$ac_objext \
+    conftest$ac_exeext conftest.$ac_ext
+LIBS=$ac_check_lib_save_LIBS
+fi
+{ $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: result: $ac_cv_lib_lz4_LZ4_compress_default" >&5
+$as_echo "$ac_cv_lib_lz4_LZ4_compress_default" >&6; }
+if test "x$ac_cv_lib_lz4_LZ4_compress_default" = xyes; then :
+  cat >>confdefs.h <<_ACEOF
+#define HAVE_LIBLZ4 1
+_ACEOF
+
+  LIBS="-llz4 $LIBS"
+
+else
+  as_fn_error $? "lz4 library not found
+  If you have lz4 installed, see config.log for details on the
+  failure.  It is possible the compiler isn't looking in the proper directory.
+  Use --without-lz4 to disable zlib support." "$LINENO" 5
+fi
+
+    ac_fn_c_check_header_mongrel "$LINENO" "lz4.h" "ac_cv_header_lz4_h" "$ac_includes_default"
+if test "x$ac_cv_header_lz4_h" = xyes; then :
+
+else
+  as_fn_error $? "lz4 header not found
+  If you have lz4 already installed, see config.log for details on the
+  failure.  It is possible the compiler isn't looking in the proper directory.
+  Use --without-lz4 to disable lz4 support." "$LINENO" 5
+fi
+
+
+  fi
+
+  #
+  # ZSTD
+  #
+
+
+
+# Check whether --with-zstd was given.
+if test "${with_zstd+set}" = set; then :
+  withval=$with_zstd;
+  case $withval in
+    yes)
+      :
+      ;;
+    no)
+      :
+      ;;
+    *)
+      as_fn_error $? "no argument expected for --with-zstd option" "$LINENO" 5
+      ;;
+  esac
+
+else
+  with_zstd=yes
+
+fi
+
+
+
+
+  if test "$with_zstd" = yes; then
+    { $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: checking for ZSTD_decompress in -lzstd" >&5
+$as_echo_n "checking for ZSTD_decompress in -lzstd... " >&6; }
+if ${ac_cv_lib_zstd_ZSTD_decompress+:} false; then :
+  $as_echo_n "(cached) " >&6
+else
+  ac_check_lib_save_LIBS=$LIBS
+LIBS="-lzstd  $LIBS"
+cat confdefs.h - <<_ACEOF >conftest.$ac_ext
+/* end confdefs.h.  */
+
+/* Override any GCC internal prototype to avoid an error.
+   Use char because int might match the return type of a GCC
+   builtin and then its argument prototype would still apply.  */
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+extern "C"
+#endif
+char ZSTD_decompress ();
+int
+main ()
+{
+return ZSTD_decompress ();
+  ;
+  return 0;
+}
+_ACEOF
+if ac_fn_c_try_link "$LINENO"; then :
+  ac_cv_lib_zstd_ZSTD_decompress=yes
+else
+  ac_cv_lib_zstd_ZSTD_decompress=no
+fi
+rm -f core conftest.err conftest.$ac_objext \
+    conftest$ac_exeext conftest.$ac_ext
+LIBS=$ac_check_lib_save_LIBS
+fi
+{ $as_echo "$as_me:${as_lineno-$LINENO}: result: $ac_cv_lib_zstd_ZSTD_decompress" >&5
+$as_echo "$ac_cv_lib_zstd_ZSTD_decompress" >&6; }
+if test "x$ac_cv_lib_zstd_ZSTD_decompress" = xyes; then :
+  cat >>confdefs.h <<_ACEOF
+#define HAVE_LIBZSTD 1
+_ACEOF
+
+  LIBS="-lzstd $LIBS"
+
+else
+  as_fn_error $? "zstd library not found
+  If you have zstd installed, see config.log for details on the
+  failure.  It is possible the compiler isn't looking in the proper directory.
+  Use --without-zstd to disable zlib support." "$LINENO" 5
+fi
+
+    ac_fn_c_check_header_mongrel "$LINENO" "zstd.h" "ac_cv_header_zstd_h" "$ac_includes_default"
+if test "x$ac_cv_header_zstd_h" = xyes; then :
+
+else
+  as_fn_error $? "zstd header not found
+  If you have zstd already installed, see config.log for details on the
+  failure.  It is possible the compiler isn't looking in the proper directory.
+  Use --without-zstd to disable zlib support." "$LINENO" 5
+fi
+
+
+  fi
+
+fi # test "$HAS_TABLEAM" == 'yes'
+
 # Check if git is installed, when installed the gitref of the checkout will be baked in the application
 # Extract the first word of "git", so it can be a program name with args.
 set dummy git; ac_word=$2
diff --git a/configure.in b/configure.in
index de008c853..bb108b246 100644
--- a/configure.in
+++ b/configure.in
@@ -185,42 +185,6 @@ if test "$enable_coverage" = yes; then
     CITUS_LDFLAGS="$CITUS_LDFLAGS --coverage"
 fi
 
-#
-# LZ4
-#
-PGAC_ARG_BOOL(with, lz4, no,
-              [use lz4])
-AC_SUBST(with_lz4)
-
-if test "$with_lz4" = yes; then
-  AC_CHECK_LIB(lz4, LZ4_compress_default, [],
-               [AC_MSG_ERROR([lz4 library not found
-If you have lz4 installed, see config.log for details on the
-failure.  It is possible the compiler isn't looking in the proper directory.
-Use --without-lz4 to disable zlib support.])])
-  AC_CHECK_HEADER(lz4.h, [], [AC_MSG_ERROR([lz4 header not found
-If you have lz4 already installed, see config.log for details on the
-failure.  It is possible the compiler isn't looking in the proper directory.
-Use --without-lz4 to disable lz4 support.])])
-fi
-
-#
-# ZSTD
-#
-PGAC_ARG_BOOL(with, zstd, no,
-              [use zstd])
-AC_SUBST(with_zstd)
-
-if test "$with_zstd" = yes; then
-  AC_CHECK_LIB(zstd, ZSTD_decompress, [],
-               [AC_MSG_ERROR([zstd library not found
-If you have zstd installed, see config.log for details on the
-failure.  It is possible the compiler isn't looking in the proper directory.])])
-  AC_CHECK_HEADER(zstd.h, [], [AC_MSG_ERROR([zstd header not found
-If you have lz4zstd already installed, see config.log for details on the
-failure.  It is possible the compiler isn't looking in the proper directory.])])
-fi
-
 #
 # libcurl
 #
@@ -255,6 +219,48 @@ else
    AC_MSG_NOTICE([postgres version does not support table access methodds])
 fi;
 
+# Require lz4 & zstd only if we are compiling columnar
+if test "$HAS_TABLEAM" == 'yes'; then
+  #
+  # LZ4
+  #
+  PGAC_ARG_BOOL(with, lz4, yes,
+                [do not use lz4])
+  AC_SUBST(with_lz4)
+
+  if test "$with_lz4" = yes; then
+    AC_CHECK_LIB(lz4, LZ4_compress_default, [],
+                [AC_MSG_ERROR([lz4 library not found
+  If you have lz4 installed, see config.log for details on the
+  failure.  It is possible the compiler isn't looking in the proper directory.
+  Use --without-lz4 to disable zlib support.])])
+    AC_CHECK_HEADER(lz4.h, [], [AC_MSG_ERROR([lz4 header not found
+  If you have lz4 already installed, see config.log for details on the
+  failure.  It is possible the compiler isn't looking in the proper directory.
+  Use --without-lz4 to disable lz4 support.])])
+  fi
+
+  #
+  # ZSTD
+  #
+  PGAC_ARG_BOOL(with, zstd, yes,
+                [do not use zstd])
+  AC_SUBST(with_zstd)
+
+  if test "$with_zstd" = yes; then
+    AC_CHECK_LIB(zstd, ZSTD_decompress, [],
+                [AC_MSG_ERROR([zstd library not found
+  If you have zstd installed, see config.log for details on the
+  failure.  It is possible the compiler isn't looking in the proper directory.
+  Use --without-zstd to disable zlib support.])])
+    AC_CHECK_HEADER(zstd.h, [], [AC_MSG_ERROR([zstd header not found
+  If you have zstd already installed, see config.log for details on the
+  failure.  It is possible the compiler isn't looking in the proper directory.
+  Use --without-zstd to disable zlib support.])])
+  fi
+
+fi # test "$HAS_TABLEAM" == 'yes'
+
 # Check if git is installed, when installed the gitref of the checkout will be baked in the application
 AC_PATH_PROG(GIT_BIN, git)
 AC_CHECK_FILE(.git,[HAS_DOTGIT=yes], [HAS_DOTGIT=])
diff --git a/src/test/regress/expected/am_lz4.out b/src/test/regress/expected/am_lz4.out
index fa95fd99d..2859277eb 100644
--- a/src/test/regress/expected/am_lz4.out
+++ b/src/test/regress/expected/am_lz4.out
@@ -21,14 +21,7 @@ SELECT count(*) FROM test_lz4;
  20001
 (1 row)
 
-VACUUM VERBOSE test_lz4;
-INFO:  statistics for "test_lz4":
-storage id: xxxxx
-total file size: 73728, total data size: 45729
-compression rate: 7.16x
-total row count: 20001, stripe count: 2, average rows per stripe: 10000
-chunk count: 9, containing data for dropped columns: 0, lz4 compressed: 9
-
+SELECT pg_relation_size('test_lz4') AS size_lz4 \gset
 SELECT DISTINCT * FROM test_lz4 ORDER BY a, b, c LIMIT 5;
  a | b  | c
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -43,13 +36,13 @@ SELECT DISTINCT * FROM test_lz4 ORDER BY a, b, c LIMIT 5;
 SET columnar.compression TO 'pglz';
 CREATE TABLE test_pglz (LIKE test_lz4) USING columnar;
 INSERT INTO test_pglz SELECT * FROM test_lz4;
-VACUUM VERBOSE test_pglz;
-INFO:  statistics for "test_pglz":
-storage id: xxxxx
-total file size: 57344, total data size: 35986
-compression rate: 9.10x
-total row count: 20001, stripe count: 1, average rows per stripe: 20001
-chunk count: 9, containing data for dropped columns: 0, none compressed: 3, pglz compressed: 6
+SELECT pg_relation_size('test_pglz') AS size_pglz \gset
+-- verify that pglz & lz4 resulted in different compression ratios
+SELECT :size_pglz <> :size_lz4;
+ ?column?
+---------------------------------------------------------------------
+ t
+(1 row)
 
 -- Other operations
 VACUUM FULL test_lz4;
diff --git a/src/test/regress/expected/am_zstd.out b/src/test/regress/expected/am_zstd.out
index e7dbe0934..1af9a8de2 100644
--- a/src/test/regress/expected/am_zstd.out
+++ b/src/test/regress/expected/am_zstd.out
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ CREATE SCHEMA am_zstd;
 SET search_path TO am_zstd;
 SET columnar.compression TO 'zstd';
 CREATE TABLE test_zstd (a int, b text, c int) USING columnar;
-INSERT INTO test_zstd SELECT floor(i / 1000), floor(i / 10)::text, 4 FROM generate_series(1, 10000) i;
+INSERT INTO test_zstd SELECT i % 1000, (i % 10)::text, 4 FROM generate_series(1, 10000) i;
 SELECT count(*) FROM test_zstd;
  count
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -21,27 +21,21 @@ SELECT count(*) FROM test_zstd;
  20001
 (1 row)
 
-VACUUM VERBOSE test_zstd;
-INFO:  statistics for "test_zstd":
-storage id: xxxxx
-total file size: 40960, total data size: 14945
-compression rate: 21.91x
-total row count: 20001, stripe count: 2, average rows per stripe: 10000
-chunk count: 9, containing data for dropped columns: 0, zstd compressed: 9
-
+CREATE TABLE test_none (LIKE test_zstd) USING columnar;
+INSERT INTO test_none SELECT * FROM test_zstd;
 SELECT DISTINCT * FROM test_zstd ORDER BY a, b, c LIMIT 5;
- a | b  | c
+ a | b | c
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
- 0 | 0  | 4
- 0 | 1  | 4
- 0 | 10 | 4
- 0 | 11 | 4
- 0 | 12 | 4
+ 0 | 0 | 4
+ 1 | 1 | 4
+ 2 | 2 | 4
+ 3 | 3 | 4
+ 4 | 4 | 4
 (5 rows)
 
+VACUUM FULL test_zstd;
+SELECT pg_relation_size('test_zstd') AS size_comp_level_default \gset
 -- change compression level
--- for this particular usecase, higher compression levels
--- don't improve compression ratio
 SELECT alter_columnar_table_set('test_zstd', compression_level => 19);
  alter_columnar_table_set
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -49,33 +43,32 @@ SELECT alter_columnar_table_set('test_zstd', compression_level => 19);
 (1 row)
 
 VACUUM FULL test_zstd;
-VACUUM VERBOSE test_zstd;
-INFO:  statistics for "test_zstd":
-storage id: xxxxx
-total file size: 32768, total data size: 15201
-compression rate: 21.55x
-total row count: 20001, stripe count: 1, average rows per stripe: 20001
-chunk count: 9, containing data for dropped columns: 0, zstd compressed: 9
+SELECT pg_relation_size('test_zstd') AS size_comp_level_19 \gset
+-- verify that higher compression level compressed better
+SELECT :size_comp_level_default > :size_comp_level_19 AS size_changed;
+ size_changed
+---------------------------------------------------------------------
+ t
+(1 row)
 
 -- compare compression rate to pglz
 SET columnar.compression TO 'pglz';
 CREATE TABLE test_pglz (LIKE test_zstd) USING columnar;
 INSERT INTO test_pglz SELECT * FROM test_zstd;
-VACUUM VERBOSE test_pglz;
-INFO:  statistics for "test_pglz":
-storage id: xxxxx
-total file size: 57344, total data size: 35986
-compression rate: 9.10x
-total row count: 20001, stripe count: 1, average rows per stripe: 20001
-chunk count: 9, containing data for dropped columns: 0, none compressed: 3, pglz compressed: 6
+SELECT pg_relation_size('test_pglz') AS size_pglz \gset
+-- verify that zstd compressed better than pglz
+SELECT :size_pglz > :size_comp_level_default;
+ ?column?
+---------------------------------------------------------------------
+ t
+(1 row)
 
 -- Other operations
-VACUUM FULL test_zstd;
 ANALYZE test_zstd;
 SELECT count(DISTINCT test_zstd.*) FROM test_zstd;
  count
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
-  6002
+  6001
 (1 row)
 
 TRUNCATE test_zstd;
diff --git a/src/test/regress/sql/am_lz4.sql b/src/test/regress/sql/am_lz4.sql
index 219bf3d52..a174d047f 100644
--- a/src/test/regress/sql/am_lz4.sql
+++ b/src/test/regress/sql/am_lz4.sql
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ SELECT count(*) FROM test_lz4;
 INSERT INTO test_lz4 SELECT floor(i / 2), floor(i / 10)::text, 5 FROM generate_series(1000, 11000) i;
 SELECT count(*) FROM test_lz4;
 
-VACUUM VERBOSE test_lz4;
+SELECT pg_relation_size('test_lz4') AS size_lz4 \gset
 
 SELECT DISTINCT * FROM test_lz4 ORDER BY a, b, c LIMIT 5;
 
@@ -25,7 +25,10 @@ SET columnar.compression TO 'pglz';
 CREATE TABLE test_pglz (LIKE test_lz4) USING columnar;
 INSERT INTO test_pglz SELECT * FROM test_lz4;
 
-VACUUM VERBOSE test_pglz;
+SELECT pg_relation_size('test_pglz') AS size_pglz \gset
+
+-- verify that pglz & lz4 resulted in different compression ratios
+SELECT :size_pglz <> :size_lz4;
 
 -- Other operations
 VACUUM FULL test_lz4;
diff --git a/src/test/regress/sql/am_zstd.sql b/src/test/regress/sql/am_zstd.sql
index 1ea7fc31b..fba90f77b 100644
--- a/src/test/regress/sql/am_zstd.sql
+++ b/src/test/regress/sql/am_zstd.sql
@@ -10,34 +10,43 @@ SET search_path TO am_zstd;
 SET columnar.compression TO 'zstd';
 CREATE TABLE test_zstd (a int, b text, c int) USING columnar;
 
-INSERT INTO test_zstd SELECT floor(i / 1000), floor(i / 10)::text, 4 FROM generate_series(1, 10000) i;
+INSERT INTO test_zstd SELECT i % 1000, (i % 10)::text, 4 FROM generate_series(1, 10000) i;
 SELECT count(*) FROM test_zstd;
 
 INSERT INTO test_zstd SELECT floor(i / 2), floor(i / 10)::text, 5 FROM generate_series(1000, 11000) i;
 SELECT count(*) FROM test_zstd;
 
-VACUUM VERBOSE test_zstd;
+CREATE TABLE test_none (LIKE test_zstd) USING columnar;
+INSERT INTO test_none SELECT * FROM test_zstd;
 
 SELECT DISTINCT * FROM test_zstd ORDER BY a, b, c LIMIT 5;
 
+VACUUM FULL test_zstd;
+
+SELECT pg_relation_size('test_zstd') AS size_comp_level_default \gset
+
 -- change compression level
--- for this particular usecase, higher compression levels
--- don't improve compression ratio
 SELECT alter_columnar_table_set('test_zstd', compression_level => 19);
 VACUUM FULL test_zstd;
-VACUUM VERBOSE test_zstd;
+
+SELECT pg_relation_size('test_zstd') AS size_comp_level_19 \gset
+
+-- verify that higher compression level compressed better
+SELECT :size_comp_level_default > :size_comp_level_19 AS size_changed;
 
 -- compare compression rate to pglz
 SET columnar.compression TO 'pglz';
 CREATE TABLE test_pglz (LIKE test_zstd) USING columnar;
 INSERT INTO test_pglz SELECT * FROM test_zstd;
 
-VACUUM VERBOSE test_pglz;
+SELECT pg_relation_size('test_pglz') AS size_pglz \gset
+
+-- verify that zstd compressed better than pglz
+SELECT :size_pglz > :size_comp_level_default;
 
 -- Other operations
-VACUUM FULL test_zstd;
-ANALYZE test_zstd;
 
+ANALYZE test_zstd;
 SELECT count(DISTINCT test_zstd.*) FROM test_zstd;
 
 TRUNCATE test_zstd;