diff --git a/charts/pixelfed/README.md b/charts/pixelfed/README.md
index eceeed6..ef38624 100644
--- a/charts/pixelfed/README.md
+++ b/charts/pixelfed/README.md
@@ -78,9 +78,11 @@ A Helm chart for deploying Pixelfed on Kubernetes
 | mariadb.enabled | bool | `false` | enable mariadb subchart - currently experimental for this chart read more about the values: https://github.com/bitnami/charts/tree/main/bitnami/mariadb |
 | nameOverride | string | `""` | This is to override the chart name. |
 | nodeSelector | object | `{}` | put the pixelfed pod on a specific node/nodegroup |
+| persistence.accessModes | list | `["ReadWriteOnce"]` | accessMode |
 | persistence.enabled | bool | `false` | enable persistence for the pixelfed pod |
 | persistence.existingClaim | string | `""` | using an existing PVC instead of creating one with this chart |
 | persistence.storage | string | `"2Gi"` | size of the persistent volume claim to create. Tgnored if persistence.existingClaim is set |
+| persistence.storageClassName | string | `""` | storage class name |
 | phpConfigs | object | `{}` | PHP Configuration files Will be injected in /usr/local/etc/php-fpm.d |
 | pixelfed.account_deletion | bool | `true` | Enable account deletion (may be a requirement in some jurisdictions) |
 | pixelfed.activity_pub.enabled | bool | `false` | enable ActivityPub |
diff --git a/charts/pixelfed/templates/deployment.yaml b/charts/pixelfed/templates/deployment.yaml
index b2e8ed5..6dc4154 100644
--- a/charts/pixelfed/templates/deployment.yaml
+++ b/charts/pixelfed/templates/deployment.yaml
@@ -282,8 +282,12 @@ spec:
         {{- end }}
         {{- if .Values.persistence.enabled }}
         - name: storage
-          persistentVolumeclaim:
+          persistentVolumeClaim:
+            {{- if .Values.persistence.existingClaim }}
             claimName: {{ .Values.persistence.existingClaim }}
+            {{- else }}
+            claimName: {{ include "pixelfed.fullname" . }}
+            {{- end }}
         {{- end }}
         {{- if .Values.phpConfigs }}
         - name: phpconfig
diff --git a/charts/pixelfed/templates/pvc.yaml b/charts/pixelfed/templates/pvc.yaml
index 3413f41..fa34630 100644
--- a/charts/pixelfed/templates/pvc.yaml
+++ b/charts/pixelfed/templates/pvc.yaml
@@ -5,8 +5,9 @@ apiVersion: v1
 metadata:
   name: {{ include "pixelfed.fullname" . }}
 spec:
+  storageClassName: {{ .Values.persistence.storageClassName }}
   accessModes:
-    - ReadWriteOnce
+    {{- toYaml .Values.persistence.accessModes | indent 4 }}
   resources:
     requests:
       storage: {{ .Values.persistence.storage }}
diff --git a/charts/pixelfed/values.yaml b/charts/pixelfed/values.yaml
index efc1ca6..906729a 100644
--- a/charts/pixelfed/values.yaml
+++ b/charts/pixelfed/values.yaml
@@ -309,8 +309,13 @@ phpConfigs: {}
 persistence:
   # -- enable persistence for the pixelfed pod
   enabled: false
+  # -- storage class name
+  storageClassName: ""
   # -- size of the persistent volume claim to create. Tgnored if persistence.existingClaim is set
   storage: 2Gi
+  # -- accessMode
+  accessModes:
+    - ReadWriteOnce
   # -- using an existing PVC instead of creating one with this chart
   existingClaim: ""