diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index e0e485b2b..0f5a81830 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ endif
 
 # Kuadrant Namespace
 KUADRANT_NAMESPACE ?= kuadrant-system
+OPERATOR_NAMESPACE ?= $(KUADRANT_NAMESPACE)
 
 # Kuadrant component versions
 ## authorino
@@ -340,11 +341,10 @@ build: generate fmt vet ## Build manager binary.
 
 run: export LOG_LEVEL = debug
 run: export LOG_MODE = development
-run: export OPERATOR_NAMESPACE = $(shell kubectl config view --minify -o jsonpath='{..namespace}')
+run: export OPERATOR_NAMESPACE := $(OPERATOR_NAMESPACE)
 run: GIT_SHA=$(shell git rev-parse HEAD || echo "unknown")
 run: DIRTY=$(shell $(PROJECT_PATH)/utils/check-git-dirty.sh || echo "unknown")
 run: generate fmt vet ## Run a controller from your host.
-	@[ "$(OPERATOR_NAMESPACE)" ] || ( echo "🚨 namespace could not be parsed from kubeconfig 💥" >/dev/stderr; exit 1 )
 	go run -ldflags "-X main.gitSHA=${GIT_SHA} -X main.dirty=${DIRTY}" ./main.go
 
 docker-build: GIT_SHA=$(shell git rev-parse HEAD || echo "unknown")