diff --git a/src/crewai/memory/external/external_memory.py b/src/crewai/memory/external/external_memory.py
index a76855d2a..2e9bc5070 100644
--- a/src/crewai/memory/external/external_memory.py
+++ b/src/crewai/memory/external/external_memory.py
@@ -2,17 +2,12 @@ from typing import Any, Dict, Optional, Self
 
 from crewai.memory.external.external_memory_item import ExternalMemoryItem
 from crewai.memory.memory import Memory
+from crewai.memory.storage.interface import Storage
 
 
 class ExternalMemory(Memory):
-    def __init__(self, crew=None, embedder_config=None, storage=None):
-        storage = (
-            storage
-            if storage
-            else self.create_storage(crew=crew, embedder_config=embedder_config)
-        )
-
-        super().__init__(storage=storage, embedder_config=embedder_config, crew=crew)
+    def __init__(self, storage: Optional[Storage] = None, **data: Any):
+        super().__init__(storage=storage, **data)
 
     @staticmethod
     def _configure_mem0(crew, config) -> "Mem0Storage":
@@ -56,6 +51,8 @@ class ExternalMemory(Memory):
 
     def set_crew(self, crew: Any) -> Self:
         super().set_crew(crew)
-        self.storage = self.create_storage(crew, self.embedder_config)
+
+        if not self.storage:
+            self.storage = self.create_storage(crew, self.embedder_config)
 
         return self
diff --git a/tests/memory/external/test_external_memory.py b/tests/memory/external/test_external_memory.py
index 3ee706335..8cbc34ef9 100644
--- a/tests/memory/external/test_external_memory.py
+++ b/tests/memory/external/test_external_memory.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ from crewai.agent import Agent
 from crewai.crew import Crew, Process
 from crewai.memory.external.external_memory import ExternalMemory
 from crewai.memory.external.external_memory_item import ExternalMemoryItem
+from crewai.memory.storage.interface import Storage
 from crewai.task import Task
 
 
@@ -142,3 +143,38 @@ def test_crew_external_memory_save(mem_method, crew_with_external_memory):
     ) as mock_method:
         crew_with_external_memory.kickoff()
         assert mock_method.call_count > 0
+
+
+def test_external_memory_custom_storage(crew_with_external_memory):
+    class CustomStorage(Storage):
+        def __init__(self):
+            self.memories = []
+
+        def save(self, value, metadata=None, agent=None):
+            self.memories.append({"value": value, "metadata": metadata, "agent": agent})
+
+        def search(self, query, limit=10, score_threshold=0.5):
+            return self.memories
+
+        def reset(self):
+            self.memories = []
+
+    custom_storage = CustomStorage()
+    external_memory = ExternalMemory(storage=custom_storage)
+
+    # by ensuring the crew is set, we can test that the storage is used
+    external_memory.set_crew(crew_with_external_memory)
+
+    test_value = "test value"
+    test_metadata = {"source": "test"}
+    test_agent = "test_agent"
+    external_memory.save(value=test_value, metadata=test_metadata, agent=test_agent)
+
+    results = external_memory.search("test")
+    assert len(results) == 1
+    assert results[0]["value"] == test_value
+    assert results[0]["metadata"] == test_metadata | {"agent": test_agent}
+
+    external_memory.reset()
+    results = external_memory.search("test")
+    assert len(results) == 0