diff --git a/doc/encoders.texi b/doc/encoders.texi
index f20be54ce8..420c7969e1 100644
--- a/doc/encoders.texi
+++ b/doc/encoders.texi
@@ -2554,7 +2554,13 @@ The following standard libavcodec options are used:
 @item
 @option{rc_init_occupancy} / @option{rc_initial_buffer_occupancy}
 @item
+@option{compression_level}
+
+Speed / quality tradeoff: higher values are faster / worse quality.
+@item
 @option{q} / @option{global_quality}
+
+Size / quality tradeoff: higher values are smaller / worse quality.
 @item
 @option{qmin}
 (only: @option{qmax} is not supported)
@@ -2575,9 +2581,6 @@ The following standard libavcodec options are used:
 @option{level} sets the value of @emph{level_idc}.
 
 @table @option
-@item quality
-Set the local encoding quality/speed tradeoff (range 1-8, higher values are faster; not all
-systems implement all levels).
 @item low_power
 Use low-power encoding mode.
 @end table
diff --git a/libavcodec/vaapi_encode.c b/libavcodec/vaapi_encode.c
index 2de5f76cab..22114bedbe 100644
--- a/libavcodec/vaapi_encode.c
+++ b/libavcodec/vaapi_encode.c
@@ -1429,6 +1429,41 @@ av_cold int ff_vaapi_encode_init(AVCodecContext *avctx)
             goto fail;
     }
 
+    if (avctx->compression_level >= 0) {
+#if VA_CHECK_VERSION(0, 36, 0)
+        VAConfigAttrib attr = { VAConfigAttribEncQualityRange };
+
+        vas = vaGetConfigAttributes(ctx->hwctx->display,
+                                    ctx->va_profile,
+                                    ctx->va_entrypoint,
+                                    &attr, 1);
+        if (vas != VA_STATUS_SUCCESS) {
+            av_log(avctx, AV_LOG_WARNING, "Failed to query quality "
+                   "attribute: will use default compression level.\n");
+        } else {
+            if (avctx->compression_level > attr.value) {
+                av_log(avctx, AV_LOG_WARNING, "Invalid compression "
+                       "level: valid range is 0-%d, using %d.\n",
+                       attr.value, attr.value);
+                avctx->compression_level = attr.value;
+            }
+
+            ctx->quality_params.misc.type =
+                VAEncMiscParameterTypeQualityLevel;
+            ctx->quality_params.quality.quality_level =
+                avctx->compression_level;
+
+            ctx->global_params[ctx->nb_global_params] =
+                &ctx->quality_params.misc;
+            ctx->global_params_size[ctx->nb_global_params++] =
+                sizeof(ctx->quality_params);
+        }
+#else
+        av_log(avctx, AV_LOG_WARNING, "The encode compression level "
+               "option is not supported with this VAAPI version.\n");
+#endif
+    }
+
     ctx->input_order  = 0;
     ctx->output_delay = avctx->max_b_frames;
     ctx->decode_delay = 1;
diff --git a/libavcodec/vaapi_encode.h b/libavcodec/vaapi_encode.h
index 0edf27e4cb..3bf0cc87c7 100644
--- a/libavcodec/vaapi_encode.h
+++ b/libavcodec/vaapi_encode.h
@@ -159,6 +159,12 @@ typedef struct VAAPIEncodeContext {
         VAEncMiscParameterBuffer misc;
         VAEncMiscParameterFrameRate fr;
     } fr_params;
+#if VA_CHECK_VERSION(0, 36, 0)
+    struct {
+        VAEncMiscParameterBuffer misc;
+        VAEncMiscParameterBufferQualityLevel quality;
+    } quality_params;
+#endif
 
     // Per-sequence parameter structure (VAEncSequenceParameterBuffer*).
     void           *codec_sequence_params;
diff --git a/libavcodec/vaapi_encode_h264.c b/libavcodec/vaapi_encode_h264.c
index f9fcd805a4..0adb903285 100644
--- a/libavcodec/vaapi_encode_h264.c
+++ b/libavcodec/vaapi_encode_h264.c
@@ -154,14 +154,6 @@ typedef struct VAAPIEncodeH264Context {
 
     // Rate control configuration.
     int send_timing_sei;
-
-#if VA_CHECK_VERSION(0, 36, 0)
-    // Speed-quality tradeoff setting.
-    struct {
-        VAEncMiscParameterBuffer misc;
-        VAEncMiscParameterBufferQualityLevel quality;
-    } quality_params;
-#endif
 } VAAPIEncodeH264Context;
 
 typedef struct VAAPIEncodeH264Options {
@@ -1141,21 +1133,8 @@ static av_cold int vaapi_encode_h264_configure(AVCodecContext *avctx)
         av_assert0(0 && "Invalid RC mode.");
     }
 
-    if (opt->quality > 0) {
-#if VA_CHECK_VERSION(0, 36, 0)
-        priv->quality_params.misc.type =
-            VAEncMiscParameterTypeQualityLevel;
-        priv->quality_params.quality.quality_level = opt->quality;
-
-        ctx->global_params[ctx->nb_global_params] =
-            &priv->quality_params.misc;
-        ctx->global_params_size[ctx->nb_global_params++] =
-            sizeof(priv->quality_params);
-#else
-        av_log(avctx, AV_LOG_WARNING, "The encode quality option is not "
-               "supported with this VAAPI version.\n");
-#endif
-    }
+    if (avctx->compression_level == FF_COMPRESSION_DEFAULT)
+        avctx->compression_level = opt->quality;
 
     return 0;
 }