In this work, we address the stability of compression systems and the active control of surge. Despite considerable efforts to stabilize axial compressors at efficient operating points, preventing surge is still a challenging problem. Here, the twostate Moore-Greitzer model comprising close-coupled valve and including parameter uncertainties and external disturbances, is considered. A feedback linearization approach transforms the original nonlinear model into an equivalent linear system. A passivity-based control is then suggested to robustly stabilize the linearized system in the presence of external disturbances and model uncertainties. Time-domain simulations strongly corroborate analytical developments and demonstrate the robust performance of the controller.