Wah Wahs, Octaves, and compressors ?

[Derringer]

I've been running my guitar into the wah first (morley bad horsie 2), then into an octave up (superfuzz or FTM) then into a distortion/fuzz.

I found that the wah didn't punch through all that well when an octave up circuit was engaged so I tried putting the wah between the octave up and the distortion and it sounds much better.

But, when the wah comes after a distorting device like an octave up, there's quite a difference in volume between heel and toe down.
Would a compressor on the output of the wah remedy this or would it kill the nuance of the wah?
I don't have a compressor to try this out with so personal experience/insight is much appreciated.