diff --git a/config.yaml b/config.yaml
index 446ced93..fb0ceeff 100644
--- a/config.yaml
+++ b/config.yaml
@@ -138,3 +138,8 @@ options:
     type: string
     description: "Throttle level - blocks excessive usage by ip. Accepted values: none, permissive, strict."
     default: none
+  sidekiq_max_memory:
+    description: Maximum memory for sidekiq in megabytes. This configuration
+      will set the UNICORN_SIDEKIQ_MAX_RSS environment variable.
+    type: int
+    default: 1000
diff --git a/src/charm.py b/src/charm.py
index 52228db7..9c7989d9 100755
--- a/src/charm.py
+++ b/src/charm.py
@@ -453,6 +453,7 @@ def _create_discourse_environment_settings(self) -> typing.Dict[str, str]:
             "DISCOURSE_SMTP_PORT": str(self.config["smtp_port"]),
             "DISCOURSE_SMTP_USER_NAME": self.config["smtp_username"],
             "RAILS_ENV": "production",
+            "UNICORN_SIDEKIQ_MAX_RSS": str(self.config["sidekiq_max_memory"]),
         }
         pod_config.update(self._get_saml_config())
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_charm.py b/tests/unit/test_charm.py
index 4bba490c..ecf9ebce 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_charm.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_charm.py
@@ -516,6 +516,28 @@ def bundle_handler(args: ops.testing.ExecArgs) -> None:
     assert expected_exec_call_was_made
 
 
+def test_sidekiq_env_variable():
+    """
+    arrange: given a deployed discourse charm with all the required relations
+    act: trigger the pebble ready event on a leader unit
+    assert: the pebble plan gets updated
+    """
+    harness = helpers.start_harness(run_initial_hooks=False)
+
+    harness.set_can_connect(CONTAINER_NAME, True)
+    harness.container_pebble_ready(CONTAINER_NAME)
+    plan_before_set_config = (
+        harness.get_container_pebble_plan(CONTAINER_NAME).services["discourse"].environment
+    )
+    harness.update_config({"sidekiq_max_memory": 500})
+    plan_after_set_config = (
+        harness.get_container_pebble_plan(CONTAINER_NAME).services["discourse"].environment
+    )
+    assert plan_before_set_config != plan_after_set_config
+    assert "1000" in plan_before_set_config["UNICORN_SIDEKIQ_MAX_RSS"]
+    assert "500" in plan_after_set_config["UNICORN_SIDEKIQ_MAX_RSS"]
+
+
 def test_handle_pebble_ready_event():
     """
     arrange: given a deployed discourse charm with all the required relations