diff --git a/docs/content/en/docs/environment/templating.md b/docs/content/en/docs/environment/templating.md
index 6e43de8fceb..a8525824651 100644
--- a/docs/content/en/docs/environment/templating.md
+++ b/docs/content/en/docs/environment/templating.md
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ List of fields that support templating:
 * `build.tagPolicy.envTemplate.template` (see [envTemplate tagger]({{< relref "/docs/pipeline-stages/taggers#envtemplate-using-values-of-environment-variables-as-tags)" >}}))
 * `deploy.helm.releases.setValueTemplates` (see [Deploying with helm]({{< relref "/docs/pipeline-stages/deployers#deploying-with-helm)" >}}))
 * `deploy.helm.releases.name` (see [Deploying with helm]({{< relref "/docs/pipeline-stages/deployers#deploying-with-helm)" >}}))
+* `deploy.helm.releases.namespace` (see [Deploying with helm]({{< relref "/docs/pipeline-stages/deployers#deploying-with-helm)" >}}))
+* `deploy.kubectl.defaultNamespace`
+* `deploy.kustomize.defaultNamespace`
 
 _Please note, this list is not exhaustive._
 
diff --git a/docs/content/en/schemas/v2beta7.json b/docs/content/en/schemas/v2beta7.json
index 30c4d0bc965..2f068d33328 100755
--- a/docs/content/en/schemas/v2beta7.json
+++ b/docs/content/en/schemas/v2beta7.json
@@ -1745,6 +1745,11 @@
     },
     "KubectlDeploy": {
       "properties": {
+        "defaultNamespace": {
+          "type": "string",
+          "description": "default namespace passed to kubectl on deployment if no other override is given.",
+          "x-intellij-html-description": "default namespace passed to kubectl on deployment if no other override is given."
+        },
         "flags": {
           "$ref": "#/definitions/KubectlFlags",
           "description": "additional flags passed to `kubectl`.",
@@ -1772,7 +1777,8 @@
       "preferredOrder": [
         "manifests",
         "remoteManifests",
-        "flags"
+        "flags",
+        "defaultNamespace"
       ],
       "additionalProperties": false,
       "description": "*beta* uses a client side `kubectl apply` to deploy manifests. You'll need a `kubectl` CLI version installed that's compatible with your cluster.",
@@ -1835,6 +1841,11 @@
           "x-intellij-html-description": "additional args passed to <code>kustomize build</code>.",
           "default": "[]"
         },
+        "defaultNamespace": {
+          "type": "string",
+          "description": "default namespace passed to kubectl on deployment if no other override is given.",
+          "x-intellij-html-description": "default namespace passed to kubectl on deployment if no other override is given."
+        },
         "flags": {
           "$ref": "#/definitions/KubectlFlags",
           "description": "additional flags passed to `kubectl`.",
@@ -1853,7 +1864,8 @@
       "preferredOrder": [
         "paths",
         "flags",
-        "buildArgs"
+        "buildArgs",
+        "defaultNamespace"
       ],
       "additionalProperties": false,
       "description": "*beta* uses the `kustomize` CLI to \"patch\" a deployment for a target environment.",
diff --git a/integration/render_test.go b/integration/render_test.go
index 29a2767d29f..3d127472d32 100644
--- a/integration/render_test.go
+++ b/integration/render_test.go
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ spec:
 				Write("deployment.yaml", test.input).
 				Chdir()
 
-			deployer := deploy.NewKubectlDeployer(&runcontext.RunContext{
+			deployer, err := deploy.NewKubectlDeployer(&runcontext.RunContext{
 				WorkingDir: ".",
 				Cfg: latest.Pipeline{
 					Deploy: latest.DeployConfig{
@@ -240,9 +240,13 @@ spec:
 						},
 					},
 				},
+				Opts: config.SkaffoldOptions{
+					AddSkaffoldLabels: true,
+				},
 			}, nil)
+			t.RequireNoError(err)
 			var b bytes.Buffer
-			err := deployer.Render(context.Background(), &b, test.builds, false, "")
+			err = deployer.Render(context.Background(), &b, test.builds, false, "")
 
 			t.CheckNoError(err)
 			t.CheckDeepEqual(test.expectedOut, b.String())
diff --git a/pkg/skaffold/build/cluster/types.go b/pkg/skaffold/build/cluster/types.go
index 149c89c6278..fcc3f1f212e 100644
--- a/pkg/skaffold/build/cluster/types.go
+++ b/pkg/skaffold/build/cluster/types.go
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ func NewBuilder(cfg Config) (*Builder, error) {
 
 	return &Builder{
 		ClusterDetails:     cfg.Pipeline().Build.Cluster,
-		kubectlcli:         kubectl.NewCLI(cfg),
+		kubectlcli:         kubectl.NewCLI(cfg, ""),
 		timeout:            timeout,
 		kubeContext:        cfg.GetKubeContext(),
 		insecureRegistries: cfg.GetInsecureRegistries(),
diff --git a/pkg/skaffold/deploy/helm.go b/pkg/skaffold/deploy/helm.go
index fd8eb5d25b5..1d777e3c916 100644
--- a/pkg/skaffold/deploy/helm.go
+++ b/pkg/skaffold/deploy/helm.go
@@ -113,7 +113,13 @@ func (h *HelmDeployer) Deploy(ctx context.Context, out io.Writer, builds []build
 
 		// collect namespaces
 		for _, r := range results {
-			if trimmed := strings.TrimSpace(r.Namespace); trimmed != "" {
+			var namespace string
+			namespace, err = util.ExpandEnvTemplate(r.Namespace, nil)
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, fmt.Errorf("cannot parse the release namespace template: %w", err)
+			}
+
+			if trimmed := strings.TrimSpace(namespace); trimmed != "" {
 				nsMap[trimmed] = struct{}{}
 			}
 		}
@@ -221,7 +227,10 @@ func (h *HelmDeployer) Cleanup(ctx context.Context, out io.Writer) error {
 		if h.namespace != "" {
 			namespace = h.namespace
 		} else if r.Namespace != "" {
-			namespace = r.Namespace
+			namespace, err = util.ExpandEnvTemplate(r.Namespace, nil)
+			if err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("cannot parse the release namespace template: %w", err)
+			}
 		}
 
 		args := []string{"delete", releaseName}
@@ -284,7 +293,13 @@ func (h *HelmDeployer) Render(ctx context.Context, out io.Writer, builds []build
 		}
 
 		if r.Namespace != "" {
-			args = append(args, "--namespace", r.Namespace)
+			var namespace string
+			namespace, err = util.ExpandEnvTemplate(r.Namespace, nil)
+			if err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("cannot parse the release namespace template: %w", err)
+			}
+
+			args = append(args, "--namespace", namespace)
 		}
 
 		if err := h.exec(ctx, renderedManifests, false, args...); err != nil {
@@ -336,7 +351,10 @@ func (h *HelmDeployer) deployRelease(ctx context.Context, out io.Writer, r lates
 	if h.namespace != "" {
 		opts.namespace = h.namespace
 	} else if r.Namespace != "" {
-		opts.namespace = r.Namespace
+		opts.namespace, err = util.ExpandEnvTemplate(r.Namespace, nil)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("cannot parse the release namespace template: %w", err)
+		}
 	}
 
 	if err := h.exec(ctx, ioutil.Discard, false, getArgs(helmVersion, releaseName, opts.namespace)...); err != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/skaffold/deploy/helm_test.go b/pkg/skaffold/deploy/helm_test.go
index b98130a9e92..1fc5b3ad9e7 100644
--- a/pkg/skaffold/deploy/helm_test.go
+++ b/pkg/skaffold/deploy/helm_test.go
@@ -71,6 +71,21 @@ var testDeployNamespacedConfig = latest.HelmDeploy{
 	}},
 }
 
+var testDeployEnvTemplateNamespacedConfig = latest.HelmDeploy{
+	Releases: []latest.HelmRelease{{
+		Name:      "skaffold-helm",
+		ChartPath: "examples/test",
+		ArtifactOverrides: map[string]string{
+			"image": "skaffold-helm",
+		},
+		Overrides: schemautil.HelmOverrides{Values: map[string]interface{}{"foo": "bar"}},
+		SetValues: map[string]string{
+			"some.key": "somevalue",
+		},
+		Namespace: "testRelease{{.FOO}}Namespace",
+	}},
+}
+
 var testDeployConfigTemplated = latest.HelmDeploy{
 	Releases: []latest.HelmRelease{{
 		Name:      "skaffold-helm",
@@ -273,6 +288,7 @@ var testTwoReleases = latest.HelmDeploy{
 }
 
 var testNamespace = "testNamespace"
+var testNamespace2 = "testNamespace2"
 
 var validDeployYaml = `
 # Source: skaffold-helm/templates/deployment.yaml
@@ -410,6 +426,7 @@ func TestHelmDeploy(t *testing.T) {
 		force            bool
 		shouldErr        bool
 		expectedWarnings []string
+		envs             map[string]string
 	}{
 		{
 			description: "deploy success",
@@ -467,6 +484,17 @@ func TestHelmDeploy(t *testing.T) {
 			helm:   testDeployNamespacedConfig,
 			builds: testBuilds,
 		},
+		{
+			description: "helm3.0 namespaced (with env template) deploy success",
+			commands: testutil.
+				CmdRunWithOutput("helm version --client", version30).
+				AndRun("helm --kube-context kubecontext get all --namespace testReleaseFOOBARNamespace skaffold-helm --kubeconfig kubeconfig").
+				AndRun("helm --kube-context kubecontext dep build examples/test --kubeconfig kubeconfig").
+				AndRun("helm --kube-context kubecontext upgrade skaffold-helm examples/test --namespace testReleaseFOOBARNamespace -f skaffold-overrides.yaml --set-string image=docker.io:5000/skaffold-helm:3605e7bc17cf46e53f4d81c4cbc24e5b4c495184 --set some.key=somevalue --kubeconfig kubeconfig").
+				AndRun("helm --kube-context kubecontext get all --namespace testReleaseFOOBARNamespace skaffold-helm --kubeconfig kubeconfig"),
+			helm:   testDeployEnvTemplateNamespacedConfig,
+			builds: testBuilds,
+		},
 		{
 			description: "helm3.0 namespaced context deploy success",
 			commands: testutil.
@@ -513,6 +541,17 @@ func TestHelmDeploy(t *testing.T) {
 			helm:   testDeployNamespacedConfig,
 			builds: testBuilds,
 		},
+		{
+			description: "helm3.1 namespaced deploy (with env template) success",
+			commands: testutil.
+				CmdRunWithOutput("helm version --client", version31).
+				AndRun("helm --kube-context kubecontext get all --namespace testReleaseFOOBARNamespace skaffold-helm --kubeconfig kubeconfig").
+				AndRun("helm --kube-context kubecontext dep build examples/test --kubeconfig kubeconfig").
+				AndRun("helm --kube-context kubecontext upgrade skaffold-helm examples/test --namespace testReleaseFOOBARNamespace -f skaffold-overrides.yaml --set-string image=docker.io:5000/skaffold-helm:3605e7bc17cf46e53f4d81c4cbc24e5b4c495184 --set some.key=somevalue --kubeconfig kubeconfig").
+				AndRun("helm --kube-context kubecontext get all --namespace testReleaseFOOBARNamespace skaffold-helm --kubeconfig kubeconfig"),
+			helm:   testDeployEnvTemplateNamespacedConfig,
+			builds: testBuilds,
+		},
 		{
 			description: "helm3.1 namespaced context deploy success",
 			commands: testutil.
@@ -851,6 +890,7 @@ func TestHelmCleanup(t *testing.T) {
 		builds           []build.Artifact
 		shouldErr        bool
 		expectedWarnings []string
+		envs             map[string]string
 	}{
 		{
 			description: "cleanup success",
@@ -876,6 +916,14 @@ func TestHelmCleanup(t *testing.T) {
 			helm:   testDeployNamespacedConfig,
 			builds: testBuilds,
 		},
+		{
+			description: "helm3 namespace (with env template) cleanup success",
+			commands: testutil.
+				CmdRunWithOutput("helm version --client", version31).
+				AndRun("helm --kube-context kubecontext delete skaffold-helm --namespace testReleaseFOOBARNamespace --kubeconfig kubeconfig"),
+			helm:   testDeployEnvTemplateNamespacedConfig,
+			builds: testBuilds,
+		},
 		{
 			description: "helm3 namespaced context cleanup success",
 			commands: testutil.
@@ -1106,6 +1154,7 @@ func TestHelmRender(t *testing.T) {
 		outputFile  string
 		expected    string
 		builds      []build.Artifact
+		envs        map[string]string
 	}{
 		{
 			description: "error if version can't be retrieved",
@@ -1160,7 +1209,7 @@ func TestHelmRender(t *testing.T) {
 			shouldErr:   false,
 			commands: testutil.
 				CmdRunWithOutput("helm version --client", version31).
-				AndRun("helm --kube-context kubecontext template skaffold-helm examples/test --set-string image=skaffold-helm:tag1 --set image.name=skaffold-helm --set image.tag=skaffold-helm:tag1 --set missing.key=<no value> --set other.key=<no value> --set some.key=somevalue --kubeconfig kubeconfig"),
+				AndRun("helm --kube-context kubecontext template skaffold-helm examples/test --set-string image=skaffold-helm:tag1 --set image.name=skaffold-helm --set image.tag=skaffold-helm:tag1 --set missing.key=<no value> --set other.key=FOOBAR --set some.key=somevalue --kubeconfig kubeconfig"),
 			helm: testDeployConfigTemplated,
 			builds: []build.Artifact{
 				{
@@ -1180,6 +1229,18 @@ func TestHelmRender(t *testing.T) {
 					Tag:       "skaffold-helm:tag1",
 				}},
 		},
+		{
+			description: "render with namespace",
+			shouldErr:   false,
+			commands: testutil.CmdRunWithOutput("helm version --client", version31).
+				AndRun("helm --kube-context kubecontext template skaffold-helm examples/test --set-string image=skaffold-helm:tag1 --set some.key=somevalue --namespace testReleaseFOOBARNamespace --kubeconfig kubeconfig"),
+			helm: testDeployEnvTemplateNamespacedConfig,
+			builds: []build.Artifact{
+				{
+					ImageName: "skaffold-helm",
+					Tag:       "skaffold-helm:tag1",
+				}},
+		},
 	}
 	for _, test := range tests {
 		testutil.Run(t, test.description, func(t *testutil.T) {
@@ -1188,6 +1249,8 @@ func TestHelmRender(t *testing.T) {
 				file = t.NewTempDir().Path(test.outputFile)
 			}
 
+			t.Override(&util.OSEnviron, func() []string { return []string{"FOO=FOOBAR"} })
+
 			deployer := NewHelmDeployer(&helmConfig{
 				helm: test.helm,
 			}, nil)
diff --git a/pkg/skaffold/deploy/kubectl.go b/pkg/skaffold/deploy/kubectl.go
index 255a7ea47fb..8da56963b4e 100644
--- a/pkg/skaffold/deploy/kubectl.go
+++ b/pkg/skaffold/deploy/kubectl.go
@@ -67,17 +67,26 @@ type Config interface {
 
 // NewKubectlDeployer returns a new KubectlDeployer for a DeployConfig filled
 // with the needed configuration for `kubectl apply`
-func NewKubectlDeployer(cfg Config, labels map[string]string) *KubectlDeployer {
+func NewKubectlDeployer(cfg Config, labels map[string]string) (*KubectlDeployer, error) {
+	defaultNamespace := ""
+	if cfg.Pipeline().Deploy.KubectlDeploy.DefaultNamespace != nil {
+		var err error
+		defaultNamespace, err = util.ExpandEnvTemplate(*cfg.Pipeline().Deploy.KubectlDeploy.DefaultNamespace, nil)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+	}
+
 	return &KubectlDeployer{
 		KubectlDeploy:      cfg.Pipeline().Deploy.KubectlDeploy,
 		workingDir:         cfg.GetWorkingDir(),
 		globalConfig:       cfg.GlobalConfig(),
 		defaultRepo:        cfg.DefaultRepo(),
-		kubectl:            deploy.NewCLI(cfg, cfg.Pipeline().Deploy.KubectlDeploy.Flags),
+		kubectl:            deploy.NewCLI(cfg, cfg.Pipeline().Deploy.KubectlDeploy.Flags, defaultNamespace),
 		insecureRegistries: cfg.GetInsecureRegistries(),
 		skipRender:         cfg.SkipRender(),
 		labels:             labels,
-	}
+	}, nil
 }
 
 // Deploy templates the provided manifests with a simple `find and replace` and
diff --git a/pkg/skaffold/deploy/kubectl/cli.go b/pkg/skaffold/deploy/kubectl/cli.go
index ef394097b79..b326da9d75f 100644
--- a/pkg/skaffold/deploy/kubectl/cli.go
+++ b/pkg/skaffold/deploy/kubectl/cli.go
@@ -47,9 +47,9 @@ type Config interface {
 	WaitForDeletions() config.WaitForDeletions
 }
 
-func NewCLI(cfg Config, flags latest.KubectlFlags) CLI {
+func NewCLI(cfg Config, flags latest.KubectlFlags, defaultNameSpace string) CLI {
 	return CLI{
-		CLI:              pkgkubectl.NewCLI(cfg),
+		CLI:              pkgkubectl.NewCLI(cfg, defaultNameSpace),
 		Flags:            flags,
 		forceDeploy:      cfg.ForceDeploy(),
 		waitForDeletions: cfg.WaitForDeletions(),
diff --git a/pkg/skaffold/deploy/kubectl_test.go b/pkg/skaffold/deploy/kubectl_test.go
index 393c57f55f7..2b9e762676e 100644
--- a/pkg/skaffold/deploy/kubectl_test.go
+++ b/pkg/skaffold/deploy/kubectl_test.go
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ const (
 	kubectlVersion118 = `{"clientVersion":{"major":"1","minor":"18"}}`
 )
 
+var testNamespace2FromEnvTemplate = "test{{.MYENV}}ace2" // needs `MYENV=Namesp` environment variable
+
 const deploymentWebYAML = `apiVersion: v1
 kind: Pod
 metadata:
@@ -89,13 +91,15 @@ spec:
 
 func TestKubectlDeploy(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []struct {
-		description      string
-		kubectl          latest.KubectlDeploy
-		builds           []build.Artifact
-		commands         util.Command
-		shouldErr        bool
-		forceDeploy      bool
-		waitForDeletions bool
+		description                 string
+		kubectl                     latest.KubectlDeploy
+		builds                      []build.Artifact
+		commands                    util.Command
+		shouldErr                   bool
+		forceDeploy                 bool
+		waitForDeletions            bool
+		skipSkaffoldNamespaceOption bool
+		envs                        map[string]string
 	}{
 		{
 			description:      "no manifest",
@@ -171,6 +175,45 @@ func TestKubectlDeploy(t *testing.T) {
 			}},
 			waitForDeletions: true,
 		},
+		{
+			description: "deploy success (default namespace)",
+			kubectl: latest.KubectlDeploy{
+				Manifests:        []string{"deployment.yaml"},
+				DefaultNamespace: &testNamespace2,
+			},
+			commands: testutil.
+				CmdRunOut("kubectl version --client -ojson", kubectlVersion118).
+				AndRunOut("kubectl --context kubecontext --namespace testNamespace2 create --dry-run=client -oyaml -f deployment.yaml", deploymentWebYAML).
+				AndRunInputOut("kubectl --context kubecontext --namespace testNamespace2 get -f - --ignore-not-found -ojson", deploymentWebYAMLv1, "").
+				AndRun("kubectl --context kubecontext --namespace testNamespace2 apply -f -"),
+			builds: []build.Artifact{{
+				ImageName: "leeroy-web",
+				Tag:       "leeroy-web:v1",
+			}},
+			waitForDeletions:            true,
+			skipSkaffoldNamespaceOption: true,
+		},
+		{
+			description: "deploy success (default namespace with env template)",
+			kubectl: latest.KubectlDeploy{
+				Manifests:        []string{"deployment.yaml"},
+				DefaultNamespace: &testNamespace2FromEnvTemplate,
+			},
+			commands: testutil.
+				CmdRunOut("kubectl version --client -ojson", kubectlVersion118).
+				AndRunOut("kubectl --context kubecontext --namespace testNamespace2 create --dry-run=client -oyaml -f deployment.yaml", deploymentWebYAML).
+				AndRunInputOut("kubectl --context kubecontext --namespace testNamespace2 get -f - --ignore-not-found -ojson", deploymentWebYAMLv1, "").
+				AndRun("kubectl --context kubecontext --namespace testNamespace2 apply -f -"),
+			builds: []build.Artifact{{
+				ImageName: "leeroy-web",
+				Tag:       "leeroy-web:v1",
+			}},
+			waitForDeletions:            true,
+			skipSkaffoldNamespaceOption: true,
+			envs: map[string]string{
+				"MYENV": "Namesp",
+			},
+		},
 		{
 			description: "http manifest",
 			kubectl: latest.KubectlDeploy{
@@ -179,11 +222,13 @@ func TestKubectlDeploy(t *testing.T) {
 			commands: testutil.
 				CmdRunOut("kubectl version --client -ojson", kubectlVersion112).
 				AndRunOut("kubectl --context kubecontext --namespace testNamespace create --dry-run -oyaml -f deployment.yaml -f http://remote.yaml", deploymentWebYAML).
+				AndRunInputOut("kubectl --context kubecontext --namespace testNamespace get -f - --ignore-not-found -ojson", deploymentWebYAMLv1, "").
 				AndRun("kubectl --context kubecontext --namespace testNamespace apply -f -"),
 			builds: []build.Artifact{{
 				ImageName: "leeroy-web",
 				Tag:       "leeroy-web:v1",
 			}},
+			waitForDeletions: true,
 		},
 		{
 			description: "deploy command error",
@@ -193,12 +238,14 @@ func TestKubectlDeploy(t *testing.T) {
 			commands: testutil.
 				CmdRunOut("kubectl version --client -ojson", kubectlVersion112).
 				AndRunOut("kubectl --context kubecontext --namespace testNamespace create --dry-run -oyaml -f deployment.yaml", deploymentWebYAML).
+				AndRunInputOut("kubectl --context kubecontext --namespace testNamespace get -f - --ignore-not-found -ojson", deploymentWebYAMLv1, "").
 				AndRunErr("kubectl --context kubecontext --namespace testNamespace apply -f -", fmt.Errorf("")),
 			builds: []build.Artifact{{
 				ImageName: "leeroy-web",
 				Tag:       "leeroy-web:v1",
 			}},
-			shouldErr: true,
+			shouldErr:        true,
+			waitForDeletions: true,
 		},
 		{
 			description: "additional flags",
@@ -219,19 +266,25 @@ func TestKubectlDeploy(t *testing.T) {
 				ImageName: "leeroy-web",
 				Tag:       "leeroy-web:v1",
 			}},
-			waitForDeletions: true,
 			shouldErr:        true,
+			waitForDeletions: true,
 		},
 	}
 	for _, test := range tests {
 		testutil.Run(t, test.description, func(t *testutil.T) {
+			t.SetEnvs(test.envs)
 			t.Override(&util.DefaultExecCommand, test.commands)
 			t.NewTempDir().
 				Write("deployment.yaml", deploymentWebYAML).
 				Touch("empty.ignored").
 				Chdir()
 
-			k := NewKubectlDeployer(&kubectlConfig{
+			skaffoldNamespaceOption := ""
+			if !test.skipSkaffoldNamespaceOption {
+				skaffoldNamespaceOption = testNamespace
+			}
+
+			k, err := NewKubectlDeployer(&kubectlConfig{
 				workingDir: ".",
 				kubectl:    test.kubectl,
 				force:      test.forceDeploy,
@@ -240,9 +293,12 @@ func TestKubectlDeploy(t *testing.T) {
 					Delay:   0 * time.Second,
 					Max:     10 * time.Second,
 				},
+				RunContext: runcontext.RunContext{Opts: config.SkaffoldOptions{
+					Namespace: skaffoldNamespaceOption}},
 			}, nil)
+			t.RequireNoError(err)
 
-			_, err := k.Deploy(context.Background(), ioutil.Discard, test.builds)
+			_, err = k.Deploy(context.Background(), ioutil.Discard, test.builds)
 
 			t.CheckError(test.shouldErr, err)
 		})
@@ -310,11 +366,14 @@ func TestKubectlCleanup(t *testing.T) {
 				Write("deployment.yaml", deploymentWebYAML).
 				Chdir()
 
-			k := NewKubectlDeployer(&kubectlConfig{
+			k, err := NewKubectlDeployer(&kubectlConfig{
 				workingDir: ".",
 				kubectl:    test.kubectl,
+				RunContext: runcontext.RunContext{Opts: config.SkaffoldOptions{Namespace: testNamespace}},
 			}, nil)
-			err := k.Cleanup(context.Background(), ioutil.Discard)
+			t.RequireNoError(err)
+
+			err = k.Cleanup(context.Background(), ioutil.Discard)
 
 			t.CheckError(test.shouldErr, err)
 		})
@@ -355,11 +414,14 @@ func TestKubectlDeployerRemoteCleanup(t *testing.T) {
 				Write("deployment.yaml", deploymentWebYAML).
 				Chdir()
 
-			k := NewKubectlDeployer(&kubectlConfig{
+			k, err := NewKubectlDeployer(&kubectlConfig{
 				workingDir: ".",
 				kubectl:    test.kubectl,
+				RunContext: runcontext.RunContext{Opts: config.SkaffoldOptions{Namespace: testNamespace}},
 			}, nil)
-			err := k.Cleanup(context.Background(), ioutil.Discard)
+			t.RequireNoError(err)
+
+			err = k.Cleanup(context.Background(), ioutil.Discard)
 
 			t.CheckNoError(err)
 		})
@@ -374,30 +436,29 @@ func TestKubectlRedeploy(t *testing.T) {
 
 		t.Override(&util.DefaultExecCommand, testutil.
 			CmdRunOut("kubectl version --client -ojson", kubectlVersion112).
-			AndRunOut("kubectl --context kubecontext --namespace testNamespace create --dry-run -oyaml -f "+tmpDir.Path("deployment-app.yaml")+" -f "+tmpDir.Path("deployment-web.yaml"), deploymentAppYAML+"\n"+deploymentWebYAML).
-			AndRunInputOut("kubectl --context kubecontext --namespace testNamespace get -f - --ignore-not-found -ojson", deploymentAppYAMLv1+"\n---\n"+deploymentWebYAMLv1, "").
-			AndRunInput("kubectl --context kubecontext --namespace testNamespace apply -f -", deploymentAppYAMLv1+"\n---\n"+deploymentWebYAMLv1).
-			AndRunOut("kubectl --context kubecontext --namespace testNamespace create --dry-run -oyaml -f "+tmpDir.Path("deployment-app.yaml")+" -f "+tmpDir.Path("deployment-web.yaml"), deploymentAppYAML+"\n"+deploymentWebYAML).
-			AndRunInputOut("kubectl --context kubecontext --namespace testNamespace get -f - --ignore-not-found -ojson", deploymentAppYAMLv2+"\n---\n"+deploymentWebYAMLv1, "").
-			AndRunInput("kubectl --context kubecontext --namespace testNamespace apply -f -", deploymentAppYAMLv2).
-			AndRunOut("kubectl --context kubecontext --namespace testNamespace create --dry-run -oyaml -f "+tmpDir.Path("deployment-app.yaml")+" -f "+tmpDir.Path("deployment-web.yaml"), deploymentAppYAML+"\n"+deploymentWebYAML).
-			AndRunInputOut("kubectl --context kubecontext --namespace testNamespace get -f - --ignore-not-found -ojson", deploymentAppYAMLv2+"\n---\n"+deploymentWebYAMLv1, ""),
+			AndRunOut("kubectl --context kubecontext create --dry-run -oyaml -f "+tmpDir.Path("deployment-app.yaml")+" -f "+tmpDir.Path("deployment-web.yaml"), deploymentAppYAML+"\n"+deploymentWebYAML).
+			AndRunInputOut("kubectl --context kubecontext get -f - --ignore-not-found -ojson", deploymentAppYAMLv1+"\n---\n"+deploymentWebYAMLv1, "").
+			AndRunInput("kubectl --context kubecontext apply -f -", deploymentAppYAMLv1+"\n---\n"+deploymentWebYAMLv1).
+			AndRunOut("kubectl --context kubecontext create --dry-run -oyaml -f "+tmpDir.Path("deployment-app.yaml")+" -f "+tmpDir.Path("deployment-web.yaml"), deploymentAppYAML+"\n"+deploymentWebYAML).
+			AndRunInputOut("kubectl --context kubecontext get -f - --ignore-not-found -ojson", deploymentAppYAMLv2+"\n---\n"+deploymentWebYAMLv1, "").
+			AndRunInput("kubectl --context kubecontext apply -f -", deploymentAppYAMLv2).
+			AndRunOut("kubectl --context kubecontext create --dry-run -oyaml -f "+tmpDir.Path("deployment-app.yaml")+" -f "+tmpDir.Path("deployment-web.yaml"), deploymentAppYAML+"\n"+deploymentWebYAML).
+			AndRunInputOut("kubectl --context kubecontext get -f - --ignore-not-found -ojson", deploymentAppYAMLv2+"\n---\n"+deploymentWebYAMLv1, ""),
 		)
 
-		deployer := NewKubectlDeployer(&kubectlConfig{
-			workingDir: tmpDir.Root(),
+		deployer, err := NewKubectlDeployer(&kubectlConfig{
+			workingDir: ".",
 			kubectl: latest.KubectlDeploy{
-				Manifests: []string{tmpDir.Path("deployment-app.yaml"), tmpDir.Path("deployment-web.yaml")},
-			},
+				Manifests: []string{tmpDir.Path("deployment-app.yaml"), tmpDir.Path("deployment-web.yaml")}},
 			waitForDeletions: config.WaitForDeletions{
 				Enabled: true,
 				Delay:   0 * time.Millisecond,
-				Max:     10 * time.Second,
-			},
+				Max:     10 * time.Second},
 		}, nil)
+		t.RequireNoError(err)
 
 		// Deploy one manifest
-		_, err := deployer.Deploy(context.Background(), ioutil.Discard, []build.Artifact{
+		_, err = deployer.Deploy(context.Background(), ioutil.Discard, []build.Artifact{
 			{ImageName: "leeroy-web", Tag: "leeroy-web:v1"},
 			{ImageName: "leeroy-app", Tag: "leeroy-app:v1"},
 		})
@@ -425,32 +486,32 @@ func TestKubectlWaitForDeletions(t *testing.T) {
 
 		t.Override(&util.DefaultExecCommand, testutil.
 			CmdRunOut("kubectl version --client -ojson", kubectlVersion112).
-			AndRunOut("kubectl --context kubecontext --namespace testNamespace create --dry-run -oyaml -f "+tmpDir.Path("deployment-web.yaml"), deploymentWebYAML).
-			AndRunInputOut("kubectl --context kubecontext --namespace testNamespace get -f - --ignore-not-found -ojson", deploymentWebYAMLv1, `{
+			AndRunOut("kubectl --context kubecontext create --dry-run -oyaml -f "+tmpDir.Path("deployment-web.yaml"), deploymentWebYAML).
+			AndRunInputOut("kubectl --context kubecontext get -f - --ignore-not-found -ojson", deploymentWebYAMLv1, `{
 				"items":[
 					{"metadata":{"deletionTimestamp":"2020-07-24T12:40:32Z","name":"leeroy-web"}},
 					{"metadata":{"deletionTimestamp":"2020-07-24T12:40:32Z","name":"leeroy-app"}},
 					{"metadata":{"name":"leeroy-front"}}
 				]
 			}`).
-			AndRunInputOut("kubectl --context kubecontext --namespace testNamespace get -f - --ignore-not-found -ojson", deploymentWebYAMLv1, `{
+			AndRunInputOut("kubectl --context kubecontext get -f - --ignore-not-found -ojson", deploymentWebYAMLv1, `{
 				"items":[
 					{"metadata":{"deletionTimestamp":"2020-07-24T12:40:32Z","name":"leeroy-web"}},
 					{"metadata":{"deletionTimestamp":"2020-07-24T12:40:32Z","name":"leeroy-app"}},
 					{"metadata":{"name":"leeroy-front"}}
 				]
 			}`).
-			AndRunInputOut("kubectl --context kubecontext --namespace testNamespace get -f - --ignore-not-found -ojson", deploymentWebYAMLv1, `{
+			AndRunInputOut("kubectl --context kubecontext get -f - --ignore-not-found -ojson", deploymentWebYAMLv1, `{
 				"items":[
 					{"metadata":{"deletionTimestamp":"2020-07-24T12:40:32Z","name":"leeroy-web"}},
 					{"metadata":{"name":"leeroy-front"}}
 				]
 			}`).
-			AndRunInputOut("kubectl --context kubecontext --namespace testNamespace get -f - --ignore-not-found -ojson", deploymentWebYAMLv1, "").
-			AndRunInput("kubectl --context kubecontext --namespace testNamespace apply -f -", deploymentWebYAMLv1),
+			AndRunInputOut("kubectl --context kubecontext get -f - --ignore-not-found -ojson", deploymentWebYAMLv1, "").
+			AndRunInput("kubectl --context kubecontext apply -f -", deploymentWebYAMLv1),
 		)
 
-		deployer := NewKubectlDeployer(&kubectlConfig{
+		deployer, err := NewKubectlDeployer(&kubectlConfig{
 			workingDir: tmpDir.Root(),
 			kubectl: latest.KubectlDeploy{
 				Manifests: []string{tmpDir.Path("deployment-web.yaml")},
@@ -461,9 +522,10 @@ func TestKubectlWaitForDeletions(t *testing.T) {
 				Max:     10 * time.Second,
 			},
 		}, nil)
+		t.RequireNoError(err)
 
 		var out bytes.Buffer
-		_, err := deployer.Deploy(context.Background(), &out, []build.Artifact{
+		_, err = deployer.Deploy(context.Background(), &out, []build.Artifact{
 			{ImageName: "leeroy-web", Tag: "leeroy-web:v1"},
 		})
 
@@ -480,8 +542,8 @@ func TestKubectlWaitForDeletionsFails(t *testing.T) {
 
 		t.Override(&util.DefaultExecCommand, testutil.
 			CmdRunOut("kubectl version --client -ojson", kubectlVersion112).
-			AndRunOut("kubectl --context kubecontext --namespace testNamespace create --dry-run -oyaml -f "+tmpDir.Path("deployment-web.yaml"), deploymentWebYAML).
-			AndRunInputOut("kubectl --context kubecontext --namespace testNamespace get -f - --ignore-not-found -ojson", deploymentWebYAMLv1, `{
+			AndRunOut("kubectl --context kubecontext create --dry-run -oyaml -f "+tmpDir.Path("deployment-web.yaml"), deploymentWebYAML).
+			AndRunInputOut("kubectl --context kubecontext get -f - --ignore-not-found -ojson", deploymentWebYAMLv1, `{
 				"items":[
 					{"metadata":{"deletionTimestamp":"2020-07-24T12:40:32Z","name":"leeroy-web"}},
 					{"metadata":{"deletionTimestamp":"2020-07-24T12:40:32Z","name":"leeroy-app"}}
@@ -489,7 +551,7 @@ func TestKubectlWaitForDeletionsFails(t *testing.T) {
 			}`),
 		)
 
-		deployer := NewKubectlDeployer(&kubectlConfig{
+		deployer, err := NewKubectlDeployer(&kubectlConfig{
 			workingDir: tmpDir.Root(),
 			kubectl: latest.KubectlDeploy{
 				Manifests: []string{tmpDir.Path("deployment-web.yaml")},
@@ -500,8 +562,9 @@ func TestKubectlWaitForDeletionsFails(t *testing.T) {
 				Max:     100 * time.Millisecond,
 			},
 		}, nil)
+		t.RequireNoError(err)
 
-		_, err := deployer.Deploy(context.Background(), ioutil.Discard, []build.Artifact{
+		_, err = deployer.Deploy(context.Background(), ioutil.Discard, []build.Artifact{
 			{ImageName: "leeroy-web", Tag: "leeroy-web:v1"},
 		})
 
@@ -559,11 +622,13 @@ func TestDependencies(t *testing.T) {
 				Touch("00/b.yaml", "00/a.yaml").
 				Chdir()
 
-			k := NewKubectlDeployer(&kubectlConfig{
+			k, err := NewKubectlDeployer(&kubectlConfig{
 				kubectl: latest.KubectlDeploy{
 					Manifests: test.manifests,
 				},
 			}, nil)
+			t.RequireNoError(err)
+
 			dependencies, err := k.Dependencies()
 
 			t.CheckNoError(err)
@@ -674,17 +739,16 @@ spec:
 			t.Override(&util.DefaultExecCommand, testutil.
 				CmdRunOut("kubectl version --client -ojson", kubectlVersion112).
 				AndRunOut("kubectl --context kubecontext create --dry-run -oyaml -f "+tmpDir.Path("deployment.yaml"), test.input))
-
-			deployer := NewKubectlDeployer(&kubectlConfig{
+			deployer, err := NewKubectlDeployer(&kubectlConfig{
 				workingDir:  ".",
 				defaultRepo: "gcr.io/project",
 				kubectl: latest.KubectlDeploy{
 					Manifests: []string{tmpDir.Path("deployment.yaml")},
 				},
 			}, nil)
+			t.RequireNoError(err)
 			var b bytes.Buffer
-			err := deployer.Render(context.Background(), &b, test.builds, true, "")
-
+			err = deployer.Render(context.Background(), &b, test.builds, true, "")
 			t.CheckNoError(err)
 			t.CheckDeepEqual(test.expected, b.String())
 		})
@@ -720,14 +784,15 @@ func TestGCSManifests(t *testing.T) {
 			if err := ioutil.WriteFile(manifestTmpDir+"/deployment.yaml", []byte(deploymentWebYAML), os.ModePerm); err != nil {
 				t.Fatal(err)
 			}
-
-			k := NewKubectlDeployer(&kubectlConfig{
+			k, err := NewKubectlDeployer(&kubectlConfig{
 				workingDir: ".",
 				kubectl:    test.kubectl,
 				skipRender: test.skipRender,
+				RunContext: runcontext.RunContext{Opts: config.SkaffoldOptions{Namespace: testNamespace}},
 			}, nil)
+			t.RequireNoError(err)
 
-			_, err := k.Deploy(context.Background(), ioutil.Discard, nil)
+			_, err = k.Deploy(context.Background(), ioutil.Discard, nil)
 
 			t.CheckError(test.shouldErr, err)
 		})
@@ -745,7 +810,7 @@ type kubectlConfig struct {
 }
 
 func (c *kubectlConfig) GetKubeContext() string                    { return testKubeContext }
-func (c *kubectlConfig) GetKubeNamespace() string                  { return testNamespace }
+func (c *kubectlConfig) GetKubeNamespace() string                  { return c.Opts.Namespace }
 func (c *kubectlConfig) WorkingDir() string                        { return c.workingDir }
 func (c *kubectlConfig) SkipRender() bool                          { return c.skipRender }
 func (c *kubectlConfig) ForceDeploy() bool                         { return c.force }
diff --git a/pkg/skaffold/deploy/kustomize.go b/pkg/skaffold/deploy/kustomize.go
index 4ffe8f233e3..94c4f08e5fc 100644
--- a/pkg/skaffold/deploy/kustomize.go
+++ b/pkg/skaffold/deploy/kustomize.go
@@ -99,14 +99,23 @@ type KustomizeDeployer struct {
 	globalConfig       string
 }
 
-func NewKustomizeDeployer(cfg Config, labels map[string]string) *KustomizeDeployer {
+func NewKustomizeDeployer(cfg Config, labels map[string]string) (*KustomizeDeployer, error) {
+	defaultNamespace := ""
+	if cfg.Pipeline().Deploy.KustomizeDeploy.DefaultNamespace != nil {
+		var err error
+		defaultNamespace, err = util.ExpandEnvTemplate(*cfg.Pipeline().Deploy.KustomizeDeploy.DefaultNamespace, nil)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+	}
+
 	return &KustomizeDeployer{
 		KustomizeDeploy:    cfg.Pipeline().Deploy.KustomizeDeploy,
-		kubectl:            deploy.NewCLI(cfg, cfg.Pipeline().Deploy.KustomizeDeploy.Flags),
+		kubectl:            deploy.NewCLI(cfg, cfg.Pipeline().Deploy.KustomizeDeploy.Flags, defaultNamespace),
 		insecureRegistries: cfg.GetInsecureRegistries(),
 		globalConfig:       cfg.GlobalConfig(),
 		labels:             labels,
-	}
+	}, nil
 }
 
 // Deploy runs `kubectl apply` on the manifest generated by kustomize.
diff --git a/pkg/skaffold/deploy/kustomize_test.go b/pkg/skaffold/deploy/kustomize_test.go
index b40d8aa9f73..b083a4e93ec 100644
--- a/pkg/skaffold/deploy/kustomize_test.go
+++ b/pkg/skaffold/deploy/kustomize_test.go
@@ -35,12 +35,14 @@ import (
 
 func TestKustomizeDeploy(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []struct {
-		description string
-		kustomize   latest.KustomizeDeploy
-		builds      []build.Artifact
-		commands    util.Command
-		shouldErr   bool
-		forceDeploy bool
+		description                 string
+		kustomize                   latest.KustomizeDeploy
+		builds                      []build.Artifact
+		commands                    util.Command
+		shouldErr                   bool
+		forceDeploy                 bool
+		skipSkaffoldNamespaceOption bool
+		envs                        map[string]string
 	}{
 		{
 			description: "no manifest",
@@ -67,6 +69,45 @@ func TestKustomizeDeploy(t *testing.T) {
 			}},
 			forceDeploy: true,
 		},
+		{
+			description: "deploy success (default namespace)",
+			kustomize: latest.KustomizeDeploy{
+				KustomizePaths:   []string{"."},
+				DefaultNamespace: &testNamespace2,
+			},
+			commands: testutil.
+				CmdRunOut("kubectl version --client -ojson", kubectlVersion112).
+				AndRunOut("kustomize build .", deploymentWebYAML).
+				AndRunInputOut("kubectl --context kubecontext --namespace testNamespace2 get -f - --ignore-not-found -ojson", deploymentWebYAMLv1, "").
+				AndRun("kubectl --context kubecontext --namespace testNamespace2 apply -f - --force --grace-period=0"),
+			builds: []build.Artifact{{
+				ImageName: "leeroy-web",
+				Tag:       "leeroy-web:v1",
+			}},
+			forceDeploy:                 true,
+			skipSkaffoldNamespaceOption: true,
+		},
+		{
+			description: "deploy success (default namespace with env template)",
+			kustomize: latest.KustomizeDeploy{
+				KustomizePaths:   []string{"."},
+				DefaultNamespace: &testNamespace2FromEnvTemplate,
+			},
+			commands: testutil.
+				CmdRunOut("kubectl version --client -ojson", kubectlVersion112).
+				AndRunOut("kustomize build .", deploymentWebYAML).
+				AndRunInputOut("kubectl --context kubecontext --namespace testNamespace2 get -f - --ignore-not-found -ojson", deploymentWebYAMLv1, "").
+				AndRun("kubectl --context kubecontext --namespace testNamespace2 apply -f - --force --grace-period=0"),
+			builds: []build.Artifact{{
+				ImageName: "leeroy-web",
+				Tag:       "leeroy-web:v1",
+			}},
+			forceDeploy:                 true,
+			skipSkaffoldNamespaceOption: true,
+			envs: map[string]string{
+				"MYENV": "Namesp",
+			},
+		},
 		{
 			description: "deploy success with multiple kustomizations",
 			kustomize: latest.KustomizeDeploy{
@@ -93,11 +134,17 @@ func TestKustomizeDeploy(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	for _, test := range tests {
 		testutil.Run(t, test.description, func(t *testutil.T) {
+			t.SetEnvs(test.envs)
 			t.Override(&util.DefaultExecCommand, test.commands)
 			t.NewTempDir().
 				Chdir()
 
-			k := NewKustomizeDeployer(&kustomizeConfig{
+			skaffoldNamespaceOption := ""
+			if !test.skipSkaffoldNamespaceOption {
+				skaffoldNamespaceOption = testNamespace
+			}
+
+			k, err := NewKustomizeDeployer(&kustomizeConfig{
 				workingDir: ".",
 				force:      test.forceDeploy,
 				waitForDeletions: config.WaitForDeletions{
@@ -106,8 +153,11 @@ func TestKustomizeDeploy(t *testing.T) {
 					Max:     10 * time.Second,
 				},
 				kustomize: test.kustomize,
-			}, nil)
-			_, err := k.Deploy(context.Background(), ioutil.Discard, test.builds)
+				RunContext: runcontext.RunContext{Opts: config.SkaffoldOptions{
+					Namespace: skaffoldNamespaceOption,
+				}}}, nil)
+			t.RequireNoError(err)
+			_, err = k.Deploy(context.Background(), ioutil.Discard, test.builds)
 
 			t.CheckError(test.shouldErr, err)
 		})
@@ -169,11 +219,14 @@ func TestKustomizeCleanup(t *testing.T) {
 		testutil.Run(t, test.description, func(t *testutil.T) {
 			t.Override(&util.DefaultExecCommand, test.commands)
 
-			k := NewKustomizeDeployer(&kustomizeConfig{
+			k, err := NewKustomizeDeployer(&kustomizeConfig{
 				workingDir: tmpDir.Root(),
 				kustomize:  test.kustomize,
+				RunContext: runcontext.RunContext{Opts: config.SkaffoldOptions{
+					Namespace: testNamespace}},
 			}, nil)
-			err := k.Cleanup(context.Background(), ioutil.Discard)
+			t.RequireNoError(err)
+			err = k.Cleanup(context.Background(), ioutil.Discard)
 
 			t.CheckError(test.shouldErr, err)
 		})
@@ -373,11 +426,13 @@ func TestDependenciesForKustomization(t *testing.T) {
 				tmpDir.Write(path, contents)
 			}
 
-			k := NewKustomizeDeployer(&kustomizeConfig{
+			k, err := NewKustomizeDeployer(&kustomizeConfig{
 				kustomize: latest.KustomizeDeploy{
 					KustomizePaths: kustomizePaths,
 				},
 			}, nil)
+			t.RequireNoError(err)
+
 			deps, err := k.Dependencies()
 
 			t.CheckErrorAndDeepEqual(test.shouldErr, err, tmpDir.Paths(test.expected...), deps)
@@ -616,15 +671,17 @@ spec:
 			t.Override(&util.DefaultExecCommand, fakeCmd)
 			t.NewTempDir().Chdir()
 
-			k := NewKustomizeDeployer(&kustomizeConfig{
+			k, err := NewKustomizeDeployer(&kustomizeConfig{
 				workingDir: ".",
 				kustomize: latest.KustomizeDeploy{
 					KustomizePaths: kustomizationPaths,
 				},
+				RunContext: runcontext.RunContext{Opts: config.SkaffoldOptions{Namespace: testNamespace}},
 			}, test.labels)
-			var b bytes.Buffer
-			err := k.Render(context.Background(), &b, test.builds, true, "")
+			t.RequireNoError(err)
 
+			var b bytes.Buffer
+			err = k.Render(context.Background(), &b, test.builds, true, "")
 			t.CheckError(test.shouldErr, err)
 			t.CheckDeepEqual(test.expected, b.String())
 		})
@@ -643,7 +700,7 @@ func (c *kustomizeConfig) ForceDeploy() bool                         { return c.
 func (c *kustomizeConfig) WaitForDeletions() config.WaitForDeletions { return c.waitForDeletions }
 func (c *kustomizeConfig) WorkingDir() string                        { return c.workingDir }
 func (c *kustomizeConfig) GetKubeContext() string                    { return testKubeContext }
-func (c *kustomizeConfig) GetKubeNamespace() string                  { return testNamespace }
+func (c *kustomizeConfig) GetKubeNamespace() string                  { return c.Opts.Namespace }
 func (c *kustomizeConfig) Pipeline() latest.Pipeline {
 	var pipeline latest.Pipeline
 	pipeline.Deploy.DeployType.KustomizeDeploy = &c.kustomize
diff --git a/pkg/skaffold/deploy/resource/deployment.go b/pkg/skaffold/deploy/resource/deployment.go
index c648091e04a..7890e59dd40 100644
--- a/pkg/skaffold/deploy/resource/deployment.go
+++ b/pkg/skaffold/deploy/resource/deployment.go
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ func (d *Deployment) WithValidator(pd diag.Diagnose) *Deployment {
 }
 
 func (d *Deployment) CheckStatus(ctx context.Context, cfg kubectl.Config) {
-	kubeCtl := kubectl.NewCLI(cfg)
+	kubeCtl := kubectl.NewCLI(cfg, "")
 
 	b, err := kubeCtl.RunOut(ctx, "rollout", "status", "deployment", d.name, "--namespace", d.namespace, "--watch=false")
 	if ctx.Err() != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/skaffold/kubectl/cli.go b/pkg/skaffold/kubectl/cli.go
index 8a5bd621735..8ae29360bb4 100644
--- a/pkg/skaffold/kubectl/cli.go
+++ b/pkg/skaffold/kubectl/cli.go
@@ -41,11 +41,18 @@ type Config interface {
 	GetKubeNamespace() string
 }
 
-func NewCLI(cfg Config) *CLI {
+// NewCLI creates a new kubectl CLI whereby the namespace from command
+// line / environment variable takes precedence over "default namespace"
+// defined in deployer configuration
+func NewCLI(cfg Config, defaultNamespace string) *CLI {
+	ns := defaultNamespace
+	if nsFromOpts := cfg.GetKubeNamespace(); nsFromOpts != "" {
+		ns = nsFromOpts
+	}
 	return &CLI{
 		KubeContext: cfg.GetKubeContext(),
 		KubeConfig:  cfg.GetKubeConfig(),
-		Namespace:   cfg.GetKubeNamespace(),
+		Namespace:   ns,
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/skaffold/kubectl/cli_test.go b/pkg/skaffold/kubectl/cli_test.go
index 26096c6844a..f3377299b85 100644
--- a/pkg/skaffold/kubectl/cli_test.go
+++ b/pkg/skaffold/kubectl/cli_test.go
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ func TestCLI(t *testing.T) {
 				kubeContext: kubeContext,
 				kubeConfig:  test.kubeconfig,
 				namespace:   test.namespace,
-			})
+			}, "")
 			err := cli.Run(context.Background(), nil, nil, "exec", "arg1", "arg2")
 
 			t.CheckNoError(err)
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ func TestCLI(t *testing.T) {
 				kubeContext: kubeContext,
 				kubeConfig:  test.kubeconfig,
 				namespace:   test.namespace,
-			})
+			}, "")
 			out, err := cli.RunOut(context.Background(), "exec", "arg1", "arg2")
 
 			t.CheckNoError(err)
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ func TestCLI(t *testing.T) {
 				kubeContext: kubeContext,
 				kubeConfig:  test.kubeconfig,
 				namespace:   test.namespace,
-			})
+			}, "")
 			cmd := cli.CommandWithStrictCancellation(context.Background(), "exec", "arg1", "arg2")
 			out, err := util.RunCmdOut(cmd.Cmd)
 
diff --git a/pkg/skaffold/runner/deploy_test.go b/pkg/skaffold/runner/deploy_test.go
index 7307230de50..fadbbe39088 100644
--- a/pkg/skaffold/runner/deploy_test.go
+++ b/pkg/skaffold/runner/deploy_test.go
@@ -144,14 +144,16 @@ func TestSkaffoldDeployRenderOnly(t *testing.T) {
 			KubeContext: "does-not-exist",
 		}
 
+		deployer, err := getDeployer(runCtx, nil)
+		t.RequireNoError(err)
 		r := SkaffoldRunner{
 			runCtx:     runCtx,
-			kubectlCLI: kubectl.NewCLI(runCtx),
-			deployer:   getDeployer(runCtx, nil),
+			kubectlCLI: kubectl.NewCLI(runCtx, ""),
+			deployer:   deployer,
 		}
 		var builds []build.Artifact
 
-		err := r.Deploy(context.Background(), ioutil.Discard, builds)
+		err = r.Deploy(context.Background(), ioutil.Discard, builds)
 
 		t.CheckNoError(err)
 	})
diff --git a/pkg/skaffold/runner/load_images_test.go b/pkg/skaffold/runner/load_images_test.go
index fe10cac6eba..063fb67dee9 100644
--- a/pkg/skaffold/runner/load_images_test.go
+++ b/pkg/skaffold/runner/load_images_test.go
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ func runImageLoadingTests(t *testing.T, tests []ImageLoadingTest, loadingFunc fu
 
 			r := &SkaffoldRunner{
 				runCtx:     runCtx,
-				kubectlCLI: kubectl.NewCLI(runCtx),
+				kubectlCLI: kubectl.NewCLI(runCtx, ""),
 				builds:     test.built,
 			}
 			err := loadingFunc(r, test)
diff --git a/pkg/skaffold/runner/new.go b/pkg/skaffold/runner/new.go
index 4bf23c13cca..970d6328899 100644
--- a/pkg/skaffold/runner/new.go
+++ b/pkg/skaffold/runner/new.go
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ import (
 
 // NewForConfig returns a new SkaffoldRunner for a SkaffoldConfig
 func NewForConfig(runCtx *runcontext.RunContext) (*SkaffoldRunner, error) {
-	kubectlCLI := kubectl.NewCLI(runCtx)
+	kubectlCLI := kubectl.NewCLI(runCtx, "")
 
 	tagger, err := getTagger(runCtx)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -58,7 +58,11 @@ func NewForConfig(runCtx *runcontext.RunContext) (*SkaffoldRunner, error) {
 	labeller := deploy.NewLabeller(runCtx.AddSkaffoldLabels(), runCtx.CustomLabels())
 	tester := getTester(runCtx, imagesAreLocal)
 	syncer := getSyncer(runCtx)
-	deployer := getDeployer(runCtx, labeller.Labels())
+	var deployer deploy.Deployer
+	deployer, err = getDeployer(runCtx, labeller.Labels())
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("creating deployer: %w", err)
+	}
 
 	depLister := func(ctx context.Context, artifact *latest.Artifact) ([]string, error) {
 		buildDependencies, err := build.DependenciesForArtifact(ctx, artifact, runCtx.GetInsecureRegistries())
@@ -187,7 +191,7 @@ func getSyncer(cfg sync.Config) sync.Syncer {
 	return sync.NewSyncer(cfg)
 }
 
-func getDeployer(cfg deploy.Config, labels map[string]string) deploy.Deployer {
+func getDeployer(cfg deploy.Config, labels map[string]string) (deploy.Deployer, error) {
 	d := cfg.Pipeline().Deploy
 
 	var deployers deploy.DeployerMux
@@ -201,19 +205,27 @@ func getDeployer(cfg deploy.Config, labels map[string]string) deploy.Deployer {
 	}
 
 	if d.KubectlDeploy != nil {
-		deployers = append(deployers, deploy.NewKubectlDeployer(cfg, labels))
+		deployer, err := deploy.NewKubectlDeployer(cfg, labels)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		deployers = append(deployers, deployer)
 	}
 
 	if d.KustomizeDeploy != nil {
-		deployers = append(deployers, deploy.NewKustomizeDeployer(cfg, labels))
+		deployer, err := deploy.NewKustomizeDeployer(cfg, labels)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		deployers = append(deployers, deployer)
 	}
 
 	// avoid muxing overhead when only a single deployer is configured
 	if len(deployers) == 1 {
-		return deployers[0]
+		return deployers[0], nil
 	}
 
-	return deployers
+	return deployers, nil
 }
 
 func getTagger(runCtx *runcontext.RunContext) (tag.Tagger, error) {
diff --git a/pkg/skaffold/runner/new_test.go b/pkg/skaffold/runner/new_test.go
index aaeea6b2efc..b47e464dac7 100644
--- a/pkg/skaffold/runner/new_test.go
+++ b/pkg/skaffold/runner/new_test.go
@@ -27,90 +27,93 @@ import (
 	"github.com/GoogleContainerTools/skaffold/testutil"
 )
 
-func TestGetDeployer(t *testing.T) {
-	tests := []struct {
-		description string
-		cfg         latest.DeployType
-		expected    deploy.Deployer
-	}{
-		{
-			description: "no deployer",
-			expected:    deploy.DeployerMux{},
-		},
-		{
-			description: "helm deployer",
-			cfg:         latest.DeployType{HelmDeploy: &latest.HelmDeploy{}},
-			expected:    deploy.NewHelmDeployer(&runcontext.RunContext{}, nil),
-		},
-		{
-			description: "kubectl deployer",
-			cfg:         latest.DeployType{KubectlDeploy: &latest.KubectlDeploy{}},
-			expected: deploy.NewKubectlDeployer(&runcontext.RunContext{
-				Cfg: latest.Pipeline{
-					Deploy: latest.DeployConfig{
-						DeployType: latest.DeployType{
-							KubectlDeploy: &latest.KubectlDeploy{
-								Flags: latest.KubectlFlags{},
+func TestGetDeployer(tOuter *testing.T) {
+	testutil.Run(tOuter, "TestGetDeployer", func(t *testutil.T) {
+		tests := []struct {
+			description string
+			cfg         latest.DeployType
+			expected    deploy.Deployer
+		}{
+			{
+				description: "no deployer",
+				expected:    deploy.DeployerMux{},
+			},
+			{
+				description: "helm deployer",
+				cfg:         latest.DeployType{HelmDeploy: &latest.HelmDeploy{}},
+				expected:    deploy.NewHelmDeployer(&runcontext.RunContext{}, nil),
+			},
+			{
+				description: "kubectl deployer",
+				cfg:         latest.DeployType{KubectlDeploy: &latest.KubectlDeploy{}},
+				expected: t.RequireNonNilResult(deploy.NewKubectlDeployer(&runcontext.RunContext{
+					Cfg: latest.Pipeline{
+						Deploy: latest.DeployConfig{
+							DeployType: latest.DeployType{
+								KubectlDeploy: &latest.KubectlDeploy{
+									Flags: latest.KubectlFlags{},
+								},
 							},
 						},
 					},
-				},
-			}, nil),
-		},
-		{
-			description: "kustomize deployer",
-			cfg:         latest.DeployType{KustomizeDeploy: &latest.KustomizeDeploy{}},
-			expected: deploy.NewKustomizeDeployer(&runcontext.RunContext{
-				Cfg: latest.Pipeline{
-					Deploy: latest.DeployConfig{
-						DeployType: latest.DeployType{
-							KustomizeDeploy: &latest.KustomizeDeploy{
-								Flags: latest.KubectlFlags{},
+				}, nil)).(deploy.Deployer),
+			},
+			{
+				description: "kustomize deployer",
+				cfg:         latest.DeployType{KustomizeDeploy: &latest.KustomizeDeploy{}},
+				expected: t.RequireNonNilResult(deploy.NewKustomizeDeployer(&runcontext.RunContext{
+					Cfg: latest.Pipeline{
+						Deploy: latest.DeployConfig{
+							DeployType: latest.DeployType{
+								KustomizeDeploy: &latest.KustomizeDeploy{
+									Flags: latest.KubectlFlags{},
+								},
 							},
 						},
 					},
-				},
-			}, nil),
-		},
-		{
-			description: "kpt deployer",
-			cfg:         latest.DeployType{KptDeploy: &latest.KptDeploy{}},
-			expected:    deploy.NewKptDeployer(&runcontext.RunContext{}, nil),
-		},
-		{
-			description: "multiple deployers",
-			cfg: latest.DeployType{
-				HelmDeploy: &latest.HelmDeploy{},
-				KptDeploy:  &latest.KptDeploy{},
+				}, nil)).(deploy.Deployer),
 			},
-			expected: deploy.DeployerMux{
-				deploy.NewHelmDeployer(&runcontext.RunContext{}, nil),
-				deploy.NewKptDeployer(&runcontext.RunContext{}, nil),
+			{
+				description: "kpt deployer",
+				cfg:         latest.DeployType{KptDeploy: &latest.KptDeploy{}},
+				expected:    deploy.NewKptDeployer(&runcontext.RunContext{}, nil),
 			},
-		},
-	}
-	for _, test := range tests {
-		testutil.Run(t, test.description, func(t *testutil.T) {
-			deployer := getDeployer(&runcontext.RunContext{
-				Cfg: latest.Pipeline{
-					Deploy: latest.DeployConfig{
-						DeployType: test.cfg,
-					},
+			{
+				description: "multiple deployers",
+				cfg: latest.DeployType{
+					HelmDeploy: &latest.HelmDeploy{},
+					KptDeploy:  &latest.KptDeploy{},
 				},
-			}, nil)
+				expected: deploy.DeployerMux{
+					deploy.NewHelmDeployer(&runcontext.RunContext{}, nil),
+					deploy.NewKptDeployer(&runcontext.RunContext{}, nil),
+				},
+			},
+		}
+		for _, test := range tests {
+			testutil.Run(tOuter, test.description, func(t *testutil.T) {
+				deployer, err := getDeployer(&runcontext.RunContext{
+					Cfg: latest.Pipeline{
+						Deploy: latest.DeployConfig{
+							DeployType: test.cfg,
+						},
+					},
+				}, nil)
 
-			t.CheckTypeEquality(test.expected, deployer)
+				t.RequireNoError(err)
+				t.CheckTypeEquality(test.expected, deployer)
 
-			if reflect.TypeOf(test.expected) == reflect.TypeOf(deploy.DeployerMux{}) {
-				expected := test.expected.(deploy.DeployerMux)
-				deployers := deployer.(deploy.DeployerMux)
-				t.CheckDeepEqual(len(expected), len(deployers))
-				for i, v := range expected {
-					t.CheckTypeEquality(v, deployers[i])
+				if reflect.TypeOf(test.expected) == reflect.TypeOf(deploy.DeployerMux{}) {
+					expected := test.expected.(deploy.DeployerMux)
+					deployers := deployer.(deploy.DeployerMux)
+					t.CheckDeepEqual(len(expected), len(deployers))
+					for i, v := range expected {
+						t.CheckTypeEquality(v, deployers[i])
+					}
 				}
-			}
-		})
-	}
+			})
+		}
+	})
 }
 
 func TestCreateComponents(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/pkg/skaffold/schema/latest/config.go b/pkg/skaffold/schema/latest/config.go
index 5462fd288bb..6346e4bb643 100644
--- a/pkg/skaffold/schema/latest/config.go
+++ b/pkg/skaffold/schema/latest/config.go
@@ -470,6 +470,9 @@ type KubectlDeploy struct {
 
 	// Flags are additional flags passed to `kubectl`.
 	Flags KubectlFlags `yaml:"flags,omitempty"`
+
+	// DefaultNamespace is the default namespace passed to kubectl on deployment if no other override is given.
+	DefaultNamespace *string `yaml:"defaultNamespace,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // KubectlFlags are additional flags passed on the command
@@ -524,6 +527,9 @@ type KustomizeDeploy struct {
 
 	// BuildArgs are additional args passed to `kustomize build`.
 	BuildArgs []string `yaml:"buildArgs,omitempty"`
+
+	// DefaultNamespace is the default namespace passed to kubectl on deployment if no other override is given.
+	DefaultNamespace *string `yaml:"defaultNamespace,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // KptDeploy *alpha* uses the `kpt` CLI to manage and deploy manifests.
diff --git a/pkg/skaffold/sync/types.go b/pkg/skaffold/sync/types.go
index c0eeb65b6a0..d6904e55f11 100644
--- a/pkg/skaffold/sync/types.go
+++ b/pkg/skaffold/sync/types.go
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ type Config interface {
 
 func NewSyncer(cfg Config) Syncer {
 	return &podSyncer{
-		kubectl:    pkgkubectl.NewCLI(cfg),
+		kubectl:    pkgkubectl.NewCLI(cfg, ""),
 		namespaces: cfg.GetNamespaces(),
 	}
 }
diff --git a/testutil/checks.go b/testutil/checks.go
index 5e12c5c4e33..cc3e7d10d27 100644
--- a/testutil/checks.go
+++ b/testutil/checks.go
@@ -48,3 +48,17 @@ func (t *T) RequireNoError(err error) {
 		t.FailNow()
 	}
 }
+
+func (t *T) RequireNonNilResult(x interface{}, err error) interface{} {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("unexpected error (failing test now): %s", err)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+	if x == nil {
+		t.Errorf("unexpected nil value (failing test now)")
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+	return x
+}