diff --git a/rpc_util.go b/rpc_util.go
index 2b8ae7ba..a0873a0c 100644
--- a/rpc_util.go
+++ b/rpc_util.go
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ func checkRecvPayload(pf payloadFormat, recvCompress string, dc Decompressor) er
 	case compressionNone:
 	case compressionMade:
 		if recvCompress == "" {
-			return transport.StreamErrorf(codes.Internal, "grpc: invalid grpc-encoding with compression enabled")
+			return transport.StreamErrorf(codes.Unimplemented, "grpc: invalid grpc-encoding with compression enabled")
 		}
 		if dc == nil || recvCompress != dc.Type() {
 			return transport.StreamErrorf(codes.Unimplemented, "grpc: Decompressor is not installed for grpc-encoding %q", recvCompress)