diff --git a/lib/plugins/tar.js b/lib/plugins/tar.js
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/lib/plugins/tar.js
+++ b/lib/plugins/tar.js
@@ -76,7 +76,11 @@ Tar.prototype.finalize = function() {
 };
 
 Tar.prototype.on = function() {
-  return this.engine.on.apply(this.engine, arguments);
+  if (this.compressor) {
+    return this.compressor.on.apply(this.compressor, arguments);
+  } else {
+    return this.engine.on.apply(this.engine, arguments);
+  }
 };
 
 Tar.prototype.pipe = function(destination, options) {
tar: when using compressor, make sure event listener gets hooked to the proper stream.