diff --git a/mariadb/templates/statefulset.yaml b/mariadb/templates/statefulset.yaml
index 8beab96d0..1ab707935 100644
--- a/mariadb/templates/statefulset.yaml
+++ b/mariadb/templates/statefulset.yaml
@@ -239,8 +239,12 @@ spec:
             defaultMode: 0444
         {{- if not .Values.volume.enabled }}
         - name: mysql-data
+        {{- if .Values.volume.use_local_path_for_single_pod_cluster.enabled }}
+          hostPath: {{ .Values.volume.use_local_path_for_single_pod_cluster.host_path }}
+        {{- else }}
           emptyDir: {}
         {{- end }}
+        {{- end }}
 {{- if .Values.volume.enabled }}
   volumeClaimTemplates:
   - metadata:
diff --git a/mariadb/values.yaml b/mariadb/values.yaml
index 4a2c44bdf..48786222c 100644
--- a/mariadb/values.yaml
+++ b/mariadb/values.yaml
@@ -229,6 +229,11 @@ dependencies:
           service: oslo_db
 
 volume:
+  # this value is used for single pod deployments of mariadb to prevent losing all data
+  # if the pod is restarted
+  use_local_path_for_single_pod:
+    enabled: false
+    host_path: "/tmp/mysql-data"
   chown_on_start: true
   enabled: true
   class_name: general