diff --git a/helm.mk b/helm.mk
index 25291ed..d78382b 100644
--- a/helm.mk
+++ b/helm.mk
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@ start-helm:
 	@- echo "\n### setting kubernetes context to $(K8S_CONTEXT)"
 	@- kubectl config use-context $(K8S_CONTEXT)
 
+	@- echo "\n### create namespace $(NAMESPACE)"
+	@- kubectl create namespace "$(NAMESPACE)" --dry-run=client -o yaml | kubectl apply -f - 
+
 	@- echo "\n### generating imagePullSecrets"
 	@- imagePullSecrets.sh
 
@@ -14,4 +17,4 @@ start-helm:
 	@- helmfile --file helmfile.yaml apply --suppress-secrets
 
 pull-helm:
-# nop
\ No newline at end of file
+# nop