diff --git a/charts/ingress-nginx/ci/controller-service-internal-values.yaml b/charts/ingress-nginx/ci/controller-service-internal-values.yaml
index 11108fbce9..0d1a1f49a2 100644
--- a/charts/ingress-nginx/ci/controller-service-internal-values.yaml
+++ b/charts/ingress-nginx/ci/controller-service-internal-values.yaml
@@ -11,3 +11,5 @@ controller:
       enabled: true
       annotations:
         service.beta.kubernetes.io/aws-load-balancer-internal: "true"
+      labels:
+        external-dns.alpha.kubernetes.io/hostname: internal.example.com
diff --git a/charts/ingress-nginx/templates/controller-service-internal.yaml b/charts/ingress-nginx/templates/controller-service-internal.yaml
index 24ac032acc..8d369526da 100644
--- a/charts/ingress-nginx/templates/controller-service-internal.yaml
+++ b/charts/ingress-nginx/templates/controller-service-internal.yaml
@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@ metadata:
   {{- if .Values.controller.service.labels }}
     {{- toYaml .Values.controller.service.labels | nindent 4 }}
   {{- end }}
+  {{- if .Values.controller.service.internal.labels }}
+    {{- toYaml .Values.controller.service.internal.labels | nindent 4 }}
+  {{- end }}
   name: {{ include "ingress-nginx.controller.fullname" . }}-internal
   namespace: {{ include "ingress-nginx.namespace" . }}
 spec:
diff --git a/charts/ingress-nginx/templates/controller-service.yaml b/charts/ingress-nginx/templates/controller-service.yaml
index c56d957b14..36d2e48847 100644
--- a/charts/ingress-nginx/templates/controller-service.yaml
+++ b/charts/ingress-nginx/templates/controller-service.yaml
@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@ metadata:
   {{- if .Values.controller.service.labels }}
     {{- toYaml .Values.controller.service.labels | nindent 4 }}
   {{- end }}
+  {{- if .Values.controller.service.external.labels }}
+    {{- toYaml .Values.controller.service.external.labels | nindent 4 }}
+  {{- end }}
   name: {{ include "ingress-nginx.controller.fullname" . }}
   namespace: {{ include "ingress-nginx.namespace" . }}
 spec:
diff --git a/charts/ingress-nginx/tests/controller-service-internal_test.yaml b/charts/ingress-nginx/tests/controller-service-internal_test.yaml
index 2680894069..3356cda2d2 100644
--- a/charts/ingress-nginx/tests/controller-service-internal_test.yaml
+++ b/charts/ingress-nginx/tests/controller-service-internal_test.yaml
@@ -61,3 +61,40 @@ tests:
       - equal:
           path: spec.trafficDistribution
           value: PreferClose
+
+ - it: should create a Service with custom labels if `controller.service.internal.labels` is set
+   set: 
+     controller.service.internal.enabled: true
+     controller.service.internal.annotations:
+       test.annotation: "true"
+     controller.service.internal.labels:
+       external-dns.alpha.kubernetes.io/hostname: internal.example.com
+   asserts:
+     - hasDocuments:
+         count: 1
+     - isKind:
+         of: Service
+     - equal:
+         path: metadata.labels.external-dns\.alpha\.kubernetes\.io/hostname
+         value: internal.example.com
+
+ - it: should merge service labels with internal labels maintaining backward compatibility
+   set:
+     controller.service.internal.enabled: true
+     controller.service.internal.annotations:
+       test.annotation: "true"
+     controller.service.labels:
+       global-service: "true"
+     controller.service.internal.labels:
+       internal-specific: "true"
+   asserts:
+     - hasDocuments:
+         count: 1
+     - isKind:
+         of: Service
+     - equal:
+         path: metadata.labels.global-service
+         value: "true"
+     - equal:
+         path: metadata.labels.internal-specific
+         value: "true"
diff --git a/charts/ingress-nginx/tests/controller-service_test.yaml b/charts/ingress-nginx/tests/controller-service_test.yaml
index 4741cdde9a..e072a91bd8 100644
--- a/charts/ingress-nginx/tests/controller-service_test.yaml
+++ b/charts/ingress-nginx/tests/controller-service_test.yaml
@@ -62,3 +62,36 @@ tests:
       - equal:
           path: spec.trafficDistribution
           value: PreferClose
+
+ - it: should create a Service with custom external labels if `controller.service.external.labels` is set
+   set:
+     controller.service.external.enabled: true
+     controller.service.external.labels:
+       custom-external: test-value
+   asserts:
+     - hasDocuments:
+         count: 1
+     - isKind:
+         of: Service
+     - equal:
+         path: metadata.labels.custom-external
+         value: test-value
+
+ - it: should merge service labels with external labels maintaining backward compatibility
+   set:
+     controller.service.external.enabled: true
+     controller.service.labels:
+       global-service: "true"
+     controller.service.external.labels:
+       external-specific: "true"
+   asserts:
+     - hasDocuments:
+         count: 1
+     - isKind:
+         of: Service
+     - equal:
+         path: metadats.labels.global-service
+         value: "true"
+     - equal:
+         path: metadata.labels.external-specific
+         value: "true"
diff --git a/charts/ingress-nginx/values.yaml b/charts/ingress-nginx/values.yaml
index 9875b36933..258e7dfc24 100644
--- a/charts/ingress-nginx/values.yaml
+++ b/charts/ingress-nginx/values.yaml
@@ -486,12 +486,12 @@ controller:
     external:
       # -- Enable the external controller service or not. Useful for internal-only deployments.
       enabled: true
-    # -- Annotations to be added to the external controller service. See `controller.service.internal.annotations` for annotations to be added to the internal controller service.
-    annotations: {}
-    # -- Labels to be added to both controller services.
-    labels: {}
-    # -- Type of the external controller service.
-    # Ref: https://kubernetes.io/docs/concepts/services-networking/service/#publishing-services-service-types
+      # -- Annotations to be added to the external controller service. See `controller.service.internal.annotations` for annotations to be added to the internal controller service.
+      annotations: {}
+      # -- Additional custom labels specifically for the external controller service
+      labels: {}
+      # -- Type of the external controller service.
+      # Ref: https://kubernetes.io/docs/concepts/services-networking/service/#publishing-services-service-types
     type: LoadBalancer
     # -- Pre-defined cluster internal IP address of the external controller service. Take care of collisions with existing services.
     # This value is immutable. Set once, it can not be changed without deleting and re-creating the service.
@@ -577,7 +577,9 @@ controller:
       # -- Annotations to be added to the internal controller service. Mandatory for the internal controller service to be created. Varies with the cloud service.
       # Ref: https://kubernetes.io/docs/concepts/services-networking/service/#internal-load-balancer
       annotations: {}
-      # -- Type of the internal controller service.
+      # -- Additional custom labeles specifically for the internal controller service.
+      labels: {}
+      # -- Type of the internal controller service
       # Defaults to the value of `controller.service.type`.
       # Ref: https://kubernetes.io/docs/concepts/services-networking/service/#publishing-services-service-types
       type: ""