diff --git a/api/v1beta1/metricstorage_webhook.go b/api/v1beta1/metricstorage_webhook.go
index c353656c..ba9faf4a 100644
--- a/api/v1beta1/metricstorage_webhook.go
+++ b/api/v1beta1/metricstorage_webhook.go
@@ -81,7 +81,9 @@ func (storage *Storage) Default() {
 		storage.Retention = "24h"
 	}
 	if storage.Strategy == "persistent" {
-		storage.Persistent = &PersistentStorage{}
+		if storage.Persistent == nil {
+			storage.Persistent = &PersistentStorage{}
+		}
 		storage.Persistent.Default()
 	} else {
 		storage.Persistent = nil