diff --git a/pkg/fission-cli/cmd/spec/apply.go b/pkg/fission-cli/cmd/spec/apply.go
index b999f8bf..164735ed 100644
--- a/pkg/fission-cli/cmd/spec/apply.go
+++ b/pkg/fission-cli/cmd/spec/apply.go
@@ -177,11 +177,6 @@ func (opts *ApplySubCommand) run(input cli.Input) error {
 			return errors.Wrap(err, "error reading specs")
 		}
 
-		err = opts.insertNamespace(input, fr)
-		if err != nil {
-			return errors.Wrap(err, "error reading specs")
-		}
-
 		if validateSpecs {
 			err = validateForApply(input, fr)
 			if err != nil {
@@ -189,6 +184,11 @@ func (opts *ApplySubCommand) run(input cli.Input) error {
 			}
 		}
 
+		err = opts.insertNamespace(input, fr)
+		if err != nil {
+			return errors.Wrap(err, "error inserting namespace")
+		}
+
 		err = warnIfDirtyWorkTree(filepath.Clean(specDir + "/.."))
 		if err != nil {
 			console.Warn(err.Error())