Abstract An apparatus was designed and constructed to measure the pressure transmitted to the die wall during tablet compression. Essentially, the apparatus consisted of a conventional die constructed with a rectangular hole perpendicular to the axial compression hole in which a third punch was inserted and the necessary mechanical linkages to allow the force appearing on this punch to be transmitted to a force‐measuring transducer. Preliminary compressions were made using sulfathiazole and sodium bicarbonate granulations. It was found that in both cases about 30 per cent of the pressure appearing on the punch appeared on the die wall. It was also found that magnesium stearate added to the granulations increased the percentage transmitted. The implications of these results are discussed.