diff --git a/internal/app/cli.go b/internal/app/cli.go
index ed355508..b58a12c6 100644
--- a/internal/app/cli.go
+++ b/internal/app/cli.go
@@ -245,6 +245,7 @@ func (c *cli) readState(s *state) {
 	}
 
 	s.setDefaults()
+	s.initializeNamespaces()
 	s.disableUntargetedApps(c.group, c.target)
 
 	if len(c.target) > 0 && len(s.TargetMap) == 0 {
diff --git a/internal/app/state.go b/internal/app/state.go
index b41dc349..72fa0f7d 100644
--- a/internal/app/state.go
+++ b/internal/app/state.go
@@ -68,6 +68,14 @@ func (s *state) setDefaults() {
 	}
 }
 
+func (s *state) initializeNamespaces() {
+	for nsName, ns := range s.Namespaces {
+		if ns == nil {
+			s.Namespaces[nsName] = &namespace{}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 // validate validates that the values specified in the desired state are valid according to the desired state spec.
 // check https://github.com/Praqma/helmsman/blob/master/docs/desired_state_specification.md for the detailed specification
 func (s *state) validate() error {