diff --git a/deploy/eck-operator/templates/statefulset.yaml b/deploy/eck-operator/templates/statefulset.yaml
index 3fcc157580..6c580fb32c 100644
--- a/deploy/eck-operator/templates/statefulset.yaml
+++ b/deploy/eck-operator/templates/statefulset.yaml
@@ -20,6 +20,9 @@ spec:
       {{- include "eck-operator.selectorLabels" . | nindent 6 }}
   serviceName: {{ include "eck-operator.fullname" . }}
   replicas: {{ .Values.replicaCount }}
+  persistentVolumeClaimRetentionPolicy:
+    whenDeleted: {{ .Values.persistentVolumeClaimRetentionPolicy.whenDeleted  }}
+    whenScaled: {{ .Values.persistentVolumeClaimRetentionPolicy.whenScaled }}
   template:
     metadata:
       annotations:
diff --git a/deploy/eck-operator/values.yaml b/deploy/eck-operator/values.yaml
index adc48be3d1..a54b28cd82 100644
--- a/deploy/eck-operator/values.yaml
+++ b/deploy/eck-operator/values.yaml
@@ -17,6 +17,11 @@ installCRDs: true
 # replicaCount is the number of operator pods to run.
 replicaCount: 1
 
+# the strategy what happens with pvc on the statefulset
+persistentVolumeClaimRetentionPolicy:
+  whenDeleted: Delete
+  whenScaled: Delete
+
 image:
   # repository is the container image prefixed by the registry name.
   repository: docker.elastic.co/eck/eck-operator