diff --git a/kubernetes/src/charm.py b/kubernetes/src/charm.py
index 9e0e9003..1975a66d 100755
--- a/kubernetes/src/charm.py
+++ b/kubernetes/src/charm.py
@@ -686,7 +686,6 @@ def _configure_instance(self, container) -> None:
         # bootstrap the data directory and users
         logger.info("Initializing mysqld")
         try:
-            self._mysql.fix_data_dir(container)
             self._mysql.initialise_mysqld()
 
             # Add the pebble layer
diff --git a/kubernetes/src/mysql_k8s_helpers.py b/kubernetes/src/mysql_k8s_helpers.py
index 2b06f29e..3eb39371 100644
--- a/kubernetes/src/mysql_k8s_helpers.py
+++ b/kubernetes/src/mysql_k8s_helpers.py
@@ -180,32 +180,6 @@ def _build_instance_sock_executor(self):
         executor.set_container(self.container)
         return executor
 
-    def fix_data_dir(self, container: Container) -> None:
-        """Ensure the data directory for mysql is writable for the "mysql" user.
-
-        Until the ability to set fsGroup and fsGroupChangePolicy via Pod securityContext
-        is available we fix permissions incorrectly with chown.
-        """
-        if not container.exists(MYSQL_DATA_DIR):
-            container.make_dir(MYSQL_DATA_DIR, user=MYSQL_SYSTEM_USER, group=MYSQL_SYSTEM_GROUP)
-            return
-
-        paths = container.list_files(MYSQL_DATA_DIR, itself=True)
-        logger.debug(f"Data directory ownership: {paths[0].user}:{paths[0].group}")
-        if paths[0].user != MYSQL_SYSTEM_USER or paths[0].group != MYSQL_SYSTEM_GROUP:
-            logger.debug(f"Changing ownership to {MYSQL_SYSTEM_USER}:{MYSQL_SYSTEM_GROUP}")
-            try:
-                process = container.exec([
-                    "chown",
-                    "-R",
-                    f"{MYSQL_SYSTEM_USER}:{MYSQL_SYSTEM_GROUP}",
-                    MYSQL_DATA_DIR,
-                ])
-                process.wait()
-            except ExecError as e:
-                logger.error(f"Exited with code {e.exit_code}. Stderr:\n{e.stderr}")
-                raise MySQLInitialiseMySQLDError(e.stderr or "") from None
-
     @retry(reraise=True, stop=stop_after_delay(30), wait=wait_fixed(5))
     def initialise_mysqld(self) -> None:
         """Execute instance first run.
diff --git a/kubernetes/tests/unit/test_charm.py b/kubernetes/tests/unit/test_charm.py
index ac102225..fe8654f6 100644
--- a/kubernetes/tests/unit/test_charm.py
+++ b/kubernetes/tests/unit/test_charm.py
@@ -163,7 +163,6 @@ def test_on_leader_elected_secrets(self):
     @patch("mysql_k8s_helpers.MySQL.configure_instance")
     @patch("mysql_k8s_helpers.MySQL.create_cluster")
     @patch("mysql_k8s_helpers.MySQL.initialise_mysqld")
-    @patch("mysql_k8s_helpers.MySQL.fix_data_dir")
     @patch("mysql_k8s_helpers.MySQL.is_instance_in_cluster")
     @patch("mysql_k8s_helpers.MySQL.get_member_state", return_value="ONLINE")
     @patch("mysql_k8s_helpers.MySQL.get_member_role", return_value="PRIMARY")
@@ -184,7 +183,6 @@ def test_mysql_pebble_ready(
         _get_member_state,
         _is_instance_in_cluster,
         _initialise_mysqld,
-        _fix_data_dir,
         _create_cluster,
         _configure_instance,
         _configure_mysql_router_roles,