diff --git a/src/generate.ts b/src/generate.ts
index 4754b0a..12cbc40 100644
--- a/src/generate.ts
+++ b/src/generate.ts
@@ -125,9 +125,12 @@ export class Generate {
 
     // if the devfile has a starter project, we use it for the devWorkspace
     if (devfileCopy.starterProjects && devfileCopy.starterProjects.length > 0) {
-      devWorkspace.spec.template.attributes = {
-        'controller.devfile.io/use-starter-project': devfileCopy.starterProjects[0].name,
-      };
+      if (devWorkspace.spec.template.attributes === undefined) {
+        devWorkspace.spec.template.attributes = {};
+      }
+      const starterProjectName = devfileCopy.starterProjects[0].name;
+      // add starter projects to the devWorkspace
+      devWorkspace.spec.template.attributes['controller.devfile.io/use-starter-project'] = starterProjectName;
     }
 
     // for now the list of devWorkspace templates is only the editor template
diff --git a/tests/generate.spec.ts b/tests/generate.spec.ts
index 00a4639..e2dcb51 100644
--- a/tests/generate.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/generate.spec.ts
@@ -160,6 +160,80 @@ metadata:
       };
       expect(context.devWorkspace).toStrictEqual(expectedDevWorkspace);
     });
+    test('with storage-type attribute', async () => {
+      const devfileContent = `
+schemaVersion: 2.2.0
+metadata:
+  name: starter-project
+attributes:  
+  controller.devfile.io/storage-type: ephemeral
+starterProjects:
+  - name: go-starter
+    description: A Go project
+    git:
+      checkoutFrom:
+        revision: main
+      remotes:
+        origin: https://github.com/devfile-samples/devfile-stack-go.git
+  - name: vertx-http-example
+    git:
+      remotes:
+        origin: https://github.com
+`;
+      const editorContent = `
+schemaVersion: 2.2.0
+metadata:
+  name: che-code
+`;
+
+      const fsWriteFileSpy = jest.spyOn(fs, 'writeFile');
+      fsWriteFileSpy.mockReturnValue({});
+
+      let context = await generate.generate(devfileContent, editorContent);
+      // expect not to write the file
+      expect(fsWriteFileSpy).not.toBeCalled();
+      const expectedDevWorkspace = {
+        apiVersion: 'workspace.devfile.io/v1alpha2',
+        kind: 'DevWorkspace',
+        metadata: {
+          name: 'starter-project',
+        },
+        spec: {
+          started: true,
+          routingClass: 'che',
+          template: {
+            attributes: {
+              'controller.devfile.io/storage-type': 'ephemeral',
+              'controller.devfile.io/use-starter-project': 'go-starter',
+            },
+            starterProjects: [
+              {
+                name: 'go-starter',
+                description: 'A Go project',
+                git: {
+                  checkoutFrom: {
+                    revision: 'main',
+                  },
+                  remotes: {
+                    origin: 'https://github.com/devfile-samples/devfile-stack-go.git',
+                  },
+                },
+              },
+              {
+                name: 'vertx-http-example',
+                git: {
+                  remotes: {
+                    origin: 'https://github.com',
+                  },
+                },
+              },
+            ],
+          },
+          contributions: [{ name: 'editor', kubernetes: { name: 'che-code-starter-project' } }],
+        },
+      };
+      expect(context.devWorkspace).toStrictEqual(expectedDevWorkspace);
+    });
   });
 
   describe('Without writing an output file', () => {