diff --git a/src/reitit/core.cljc b/src/reitit/core.cljc
index 0cf00bbd..5043022a 100644
--- a/src/reitit/core.cljc
+++ b/src/reitit/core.cljc
@@ -55,11 +55,11 @@
       (meta-merge acc {k v}))
     {} x))
 
-(defn resolve-routes [data {:keys [coerce] :or {coerce identity} :as opts}]
-  (->> (walk data opts)
-       (map-meta merge-meta)
-       (mapv (partial coerce))
-       (filterv identity)))
+(defn resolve-routes [data {:keys [coerce] :as opts}]
+  (cond-> (->> (walk data opts)
+               (map-meta merge-meta))
+          coerce (->> (mapv (partial coerce))
+                      (filterv identity))))
 
 (defn compile-route [compile [p m :as route]]
   [p m (if compile (compile route))])
@@ -71,6 +71,10 @@
 
 (defrecord Match [template meta path handler params])
 
+(def default-router-options
+  {:coerce identity
+   :compile (comp :handler second)})
+
 (defrecord LinearRouter [routes data lookup]
   Routing
   (routes [_]
@@ -91,8 +95,9 @@
   See [[router]] for available options"
   ([routes]
    (linear-router routes {}))
-  ([routes {:keys [compile]}]
-   (let [compiled (map (partial compile-route compile) routes)]
+  ([routes opts]
+   (let [{:keys [compile]} (meta-merge default-router-options opts)
+         compiled (map (partial compile-route compile) routes)]
      (->LinearRouter
        routes
        (mapv (partial impl/create) compiled)
@@ -119,8 +124,9 @@
   See [[router]] for available options"
   ([routes]
    (lookup-router routes {}))
-  ([routes {:keys [compile]}]
-   (let [compiled (map (partial compile-route compile) routes)]
+  ([routes opts]
+   (let [{:keys [compile]} (meta-merge default-router-options opts)
+         compiled (map (partial compile-route compile) routes)]
      (when-let [route (some impl/contains-wilds? (map first routes))]
        (throw
          (ex-info
@@ -150,7 +156,7 @@
   | `:meta`    | Initial expanded route-meta vector (default `[]`)
   | `:expand`  | Function `arg => meta` to expand route arg to route meta-data (default `reitit.core/expand`)
   | `:coerce`  | Function `[path meta] => [path meta]` to coerce resolved route, can throw or return `nil` (default `identity`)
-  | `:compile` | Function `[path meta] => handler` to compile a route handler"
+  | `:compile` | Function `[path meta] => handler` to compile a route handler (default `(comp :handler second)`)"
   ([data]
    (router data {}))
   ([data opts]
diff --git a/test/cljc/reitit/core_test.cljc b/test/cljc/reitit/core_test.cljc
index deeb9e4d..2da36f71 100644
--- a/test/cljc/reitit/core_test.cljc
+++ b/test/cljc/reitit/core_test.cljc
@@ -56,36 +56,43 @@
                   ["/api/:version/ping"] {})))))))
 
   (testing "route coercion & compilation"
-    (let [compile-times (atom 0)
-          coerce (fn [[path meta]]
-                   (if-not (:invalid? meta)
-                     [path (assoc meta :path path)]))
-          compile (fn [[path meta]]
-                    (swap! compile-times inc)
-                    (constantly path))
-          router (reitit/router
-                   ["/api" {:roles #{:admin}}
-                    ["/ping" ::ping]
-                    ["/pong" ::pong]
-                    ["/hidden" {:invalid? true}
-                     ["/utter"]
-                     ["/crap"]]]
-                   {:coerce coerce
-                    :compile compile})]
-      (testing "routes are coerced"
-        (is (= [["/api/ping" {:name ::ping
-                              :path "/api/ping",
-                              :roles #{:admin}}]
-                ["/api/pong" {:name ::pong
-                              :path "/api/pong",
-                              :roles #{:admin}}]]
-               (reitit/routes router))))
-      (testing "route match contains compiled handler"
-        (is (= 2 @compile-times))
-        (let [{:keys [handler]} (reitit/match-by-path router "/api/pong")]
+    (testing "custom compile"
+      (let [compile-times (atom 0)
+            coerce (fn [[path meta]]
+                     (if-not (:invalid? meta)
+                       [path (assoc meta :path path)]))
+            compile (fn [[path meta]]
+                      (swap! compile-times inc)
+                      (constantly path))
+            router (reitit/router
+                     ["/api" {:roles #{:admin}}
+                      ["/ping" ::ping]
+                      ["/pong" ::pong]
+                      ["/hidden" {:invalid? true}
+                       ["/utter"]
+                       ["/crap"]]]
+                     {:coerce coerce
+                      :compile compile})]
+        (testing "routes are coerced"
+          (is (= [["/api/ping" {:name ::ping
+                                :path "/api/ping",
+                                :roles #{:admin}}]
+                  ["/api/pong" {:name ::pong
+                                :path "/api/pong",
+                                :roles #{:admin}}]]
+                 (reitit/routes router))))
+        (testing "route match contains compiled handler"
+          (is (= 2 @compile-times))
+          (let [{:keys [handler]} (reitit/match-by-path router "/api/pong")]
+            (is handler)
+            (is (= "/api/pong" (handler)))
+            (is (= 2 @compile-times))))))
+    (testing "default compile"
+      (let [router (reitit/router ["/ping" (constantly "ok")])]
+        (println (reitit/match-by-path router "/ping"))
+        (let [{:keys [handler]} (reitit/match-by-path router "/ping")]
           (is handler)
-          (is (= "/api/pong" (handler)))
-          (is (= 2 @compile-times))))))
+          (is (= "ok" (handler)))))))
 
   (testing "bide sample"
     (let [routes [["/auth/login" :auth/login]