diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 1b819cd..3649c3d 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 BOT_TOKEN=bot_token
 DB_USERNAME=databaseuser
 DB_PASSWORD=databasepass
+DB_LOCATION=/external/data
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 607877c..a163c03 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ ipython_config.py
 
 # PEP 582; used by e.g. github.com/David-OConnor/pyflow
 __pypackages__/
-
+data
 # Celery stuff
 celerybeat-schedule
 celerybeat.pid
diff --git a/compose.yaml b/compose.yaml
index d5fc25a..9b46b21 100644
--- a/compose.yaml
+++ b/compose.yaml
@@ -20,3 +20,5 @@ services:
       - MONGO_INITDB_ROOT_PASSWORD=${DB_PASSWORD}
     ports:
       - "27017:27017"
+    volumes:
+      - ${DB_LOCATION}:/data/db