Mutator populations with high mutation rates can adapt their genomes to reduce the negative effects of mutations, allowing them to survive and even thrive in the long run. This was shown by studying mutator populations in stable conditions using a computer simulation. The mutators initially lost fitness but eventually recovered, with some even becoming fitter than non-mutator populations. This adaptation was achieved by compacting the coding part of their genomes and accumulating non-coding sequences, which changed the distribution of mutation effects. This challenges the idea that high mutation rates always lead to negative outcomes, showing that mutator populations can evolve to overcome the mutational burden and persist over time.