diff --git a/langchain/vectorstores/chroma.py b/langchain/vectorstores/chroma.py
index 47d3b4a149..c9eca71372 100644
--- a/langchain/vectorstores/chroma.py
+++ b/langchain/vectorstores/chroma.py
@@ -90,7 +90,9 @@ class Chroma(VectorStore):
             self._client = chromadb.Client(self._client_settings)
 
         self._embedding_function = embedding_function
-        self._persist_directory = persist_directory
+        self._persist_directory = (
+            self._client_settings.persist_directory or persist_directory
+        )
         self._collection = self._client.get_or_create_collection(
             name=collection_name,
             embedding_function=self._embedding_function.embed_documents