A transducer for a disk drive head includes a pole tip protrusion (PTP) compensation layer disposed proximate to a write element of the head to at least partially offset the effect of pole tip protrusion. The PTP compensation layer can be above, below, or within the write element. Suitable materials for the PTP compensation layer include zirconium oxide ceramics characterized by negative coefficients of thermal expansion such as ZrMo.sub.2O.sub.8.