diff --git a/config/rbac/role.yaml b/config/rbac/role.yaml
index e2ca41043..4d585c529 100644
--- a/config/rbac/role.yaml
+++ b/config/rbac/role.yaml
@@ -106,6 +106,12 @@ rules:
   - list
   - update
   - watch
+- apiGroups:
+  - rabbitmq.com
+  resources:
+  - rabbitmqclusters/finalizers
+  verbs:
+  - update
 - apiGroups:
   - rabbitmq.com
   resources:
diff --git a/controllers/rabbitmqcluster_controller.go b/controllers/rabbitmqcluster_controller.go
index e1e9de5ce..e4f3729c9 100644
--- a/controllers/rabbitmqcluster_controller.go
+++ b/controllers/rabbitmqcluster_controller.go
@@ -75,13 +75,13 @@ type RabbitmqClusterReconciler struct {
 // +kubebuilder:rbac:groups="",resources=pods/exec,verbs=create
 // +kubebuilder:rbac:groups="",resources=pods,verbs=update;get;list;watch
 // +kubebuilder:rbac:groups="",resources=services,verbs=get;list;watch;create;update
-// +kubebuilder:rbac:groups="",resources=endpoints,verbs=get;watch
+// +kubebuilder:rbac:groups="",resources=endpoints,verbs=get;watch;list
 // +kubebuilder:rbac:groups=apps,resources=statefulsets,verbs=get;list;watch;create;update;delete
-// +kubebuilder:rbac:groups="",resources=endpoints,verbs=list
 // +kubebuilder:rbac:groups="",resources=configmaps,verbs=get;list;watch;create;update
 // +kubebuilder:rbac:groups="",resources=secrets,verbs=get;list;watch;create;update
 // +kubebuilder:rbac:groups=rabbitmq.com,resources=rabbitmqclusters,verbs=get;list;watch;create;update
 // +kubebuilder:rbac:groups=rabbitmq.com,resources=rabbitmqclusters/status,verbs=get;update
+// +kubebuilder:rbac:groups=rabbitmq.com,resources=rabbitmqclusters/finalizers,verbs=update
 // +kubebuilder:rbac:groups="",resources=events,verbs=get;create;patch
 // +kubebuilder:rbac:groups="",resources=serviceaccounts,verbs=get;list;watch;create;update
 // +kubebuilder:rbac:groups="rbac.authorization.k8s.io",resources=roles,verbs=get;list;watch;create;update
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index 5f1fa159d..582c6554f 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ require (
 	k8s.io/api v0.18.6
 	k8s.io/apimachinery v0.18.6
 	k8s.io/client-go v0.18.6
+	k8s.io/utils v0.0.0-20200603063816-c1c6865ac451
 	sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime v0.6.2
 	sigs.k8s.io/structured-merge-diff v0.0.0-20190525122527-15d366b2352e // indirect
 )
diff --git a/internal/resource/statefulset.go b/internal/resource/statefulset.go
index 2be32e9ed..32aa0f941 100644
--- a/internal/resource/statefulset.go
+++ b/internal/resource/statefulset.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/strategicpatch"
+	"k8s.io/utils/pointer"
 	ctrl "sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/controller/controllerutil"
 )
@@ -91,6 +92,7 @@ func (builder *StatefulSetBuilder) Build() (runtime.Object, error) {
 				if err := controllerutil.SetControllerReference(builder.Instance, &pvcList[i], builder.Scheme); err != nil {
 					return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed setting controller reference: %v", err)
 				}
+				disableBlockOwnerDeletion(pvcList[i])
 			}
 			sts.Spec.VolumeClaimTemplates = pvcList
 		}
@@ -121,10 +123,19 @@ func persistentVolumeClaim(instance *rabbitmqv1beta1.RabbitmqCluster, scheme *ru
 	if err := controllerutil.SetControllerReference(instance, &pvc, scheme); err != nil {
 		return []corev1.PersistentVolumeClaim{}, fmt.Errorf("failed setting controller reference: %v", err)
 	}
+	disableBlockOwnerDeletion(pvc)
 
 	return []corev1.PersistentVolumeClaim{pvc}, nil
 }
 
+// required for OpenShift compatibility, see https://github.com/rabbitmq/cluster-operator/issues/234
+func disableBlockOwnerDeletion(pvc corev1.PersistentVolumeClaim) {
+	refs := pvc.OwnerReferences
+	for i := range refs {
+		refs[i].BlockOwnerDeletion = pointer.BoolPtr(false)
+	}
+}
+
 func (builder *StatefulSetBuilder) Update(object runtime.Object) error {
 	sts := object.(*appsv1.StatefulSet)
 
diff --git a/internal/resource/statefulset_test.go b/internal/resource/statefulset_test.go
index d4af4b606..450f0be14 100644
--- a/internal/resource/statefulset_test.go
+++ b/internal/resource/statefulset_test.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 	v1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime"
 	defaultscheme "k8s.io/client-go/kubernetes/scheme"
+	"k8s.io/utils/pointer"
 )
 
 var _ = Describe("StatefulSet", func() {
@@ -94,7 +95,6 @@ var _ = Describe("StatefulSet", func() {
 		})
 		Context("PVC template", func() {
 			It("creates the required PersistentVolumeClaim", func() {
-				truth := true
 				q, _ := k8sresource.ParseQuantity("10Gi")
 
 				obj, err := stsBuilder.Build()
@@ -116,8 +116,8 @@ var _ = Describe("StatefulSet", func() {
 								Kind:               "RabbitmqCluster",
 								Name:               instance.Name,
 								UID:                "",
-								Controller:         &truth,
-								BlockOwnerDeletion: &truth,
+								Controller:         pointer.BoolPtr(true),
+								BlockOwnerDeletion: pointer.BoolPtr(false),
 							},
 						},
 						Annotations: map[string]string{},
@@ -169,7 +169,6 @@ var _ = Describe("StatefulSet", func() {
 
 			It("overrides the PVC list", func() {
 				storageClass := "my-storage-class"
-				truth := true
 				builder.Instance.Spec.Override.StatefulSet = &rabbitmqv1beta1.StatefulSet{
 					Spec: &rabbitmqv1beta1.StatefulSetSpec{
 						VolumeClaimTemplates: []rabbitmqv1beta1.PersistentVolumeClaim{
@@ -220,8 +219,8 @@ var _ = Describe("StatefulSet", func() {
 									Kind:               "RabbitmqCluster",
 									Name:               instance.Name,
 									UID:                "",
-									Controller:         &truth,
-									BlockOwnerDeletion: &truth,
+									Controller:         pointer.BoolPtr(true),
+									BlockOwnerDeletion: pointer.BoolPtr(false),
 								},
 							},
 						},
@@ -244,8 +243,8 @@ var _ = Describe("StatefulSet", func() {
 									Kind:               "RabbitmqCluster",
 									Name:               instance.Name,
 									UID:                "",
-									Controller:         &truth,
-									BlockOwnerDeletion: &truth,
+									Controller:         pointer.BoolPtr(true),
+									BlockOwnerDeletion: pointer.BoolPtr(false),
 								},
 							},
 						},