diff --git a/cmd/helm/install.go b/cmd/helm/install.go
index 7e59333b6..a9d308908 100644
--- a/cmd/helm/install.go
+++ b/cmd/helm/install.go
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ func newInstallCmd(c helm.Interface, out io.Writer) *cobra.Command {
 	f := cmd.Flags()
 	f.VarP(&inst.valueFiles, "values", "f", "specify values in a YAML file (can specify multiple)")
 	f.StringVarP(&inst.name, "name", "n", "", "release name. If unspecified, it will autogenerate one for you")
-	f.StringVar(&inst.namespace, "namespace", "", "namespace to install the release into")
+	f.StringVar(&inst.namespace, "namespace", "", "namespace to install the release into. Defaults to the current kube config namespace.")
 	f.BoolVar(&inst.dryRun, "dry-run", false, "simulate an install")
 	f.BoolVar(&inst.disableHooks, "no-hooks", false, "prevent hooks from running during install")
 	f.BoolVar(&inst.replace, "replace", false, "re-use the given name, even if that name is already used. This is unsafe in production")
diff --git a/cmd/helm/upgrade.go b/cmd/helm/upgrade.go
index 989d73cdd..4b852198a 100644
--- a/cmd/helm/upgrade.go
+++ b/cmd/helm/upgrade.go
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ func newUpgradeCmd(client helm.Interface, out io.Writer) *cobra.Command {
 	f.BoolVar(&upgrade.verify, "verify", false, "verify the provenance of the chart before upgrading")
 	f.StringVar(&upgrade.keyring, "keyring", defaultKeyring(), "path to the keyring that contains public signing keys")
 	f.BoolVarP(&upgrade.install, "install", "i", false, "if a release by this name doesn't already exist, run an install")
-	f.StringVar(&upgrade.namespace, "namespace", "default", "namespace to install the release into (only used if --install is set)")
+	f.StringVar(&upgrade.namespace, "namespace", "", "namespace to install the release into (only used if --install is set). Defaults to the current kube config namespace")
 	f.StringVar(&upgrade.version, "version", "", "specify the exact chart version to use. If this is not specified, the latest version is used")
 	f.Int64Var(&upgrade.timeout, "timeout", 300, "time in seconds to wait for any individual Kubernetes operation (like Jobs for hooks)")
 	f.BoolVar(&upgrade.resetValues, "reset-values", false, "when upgrading, reset the values to the ones built into the chart")
diff --git a/docs/helm/helm_install.md b/docs/helm/helm_install.md
index 0a4cb48e8..8858f534d 100644
--- a/docs/helm/helm_install.md
+++ b/docs/helm/helm_install.md
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ helm install [CHART]
       --keyring string         location of public keys used for verification (default "~/.gnupg/pubring.gpg")
   -n, --name string            release name. If unspecified, it will autogenerate one for you
       --name-template string   specify template used to name the release
-      --namespace string       namespace to install the release into
+      --namespace string       namespace to install the release into. Defaults to the current kube config namespace.
       --no-hooks               prevent hooks from running during install
       --replace                re-use the given name, even if that name is already used. This is unsafe in production
       --repo string            chart repository url where to locate the requested chart
@@ -106,4 +106,4 @@ helm install [CHART]
 ### SEE ALSO
 * [helm](helm.md)	 - The Helm package manager for Kubernetes.
 
-###### Auto generated by spf13/cobra on 23-Jun-2017
+###### Auto generated by spf13/cobra on 15-Aug-2017
diff --git a/docs/helm/helm_upgrade.md b/docs/helm/helm_upgrade.md
index 934cadd13..fdf95854f 100644
--- a/docs/helm/helm_upgrade.md
+++ b/docs/helm/helm_upgrade.md
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ helm upgrade [RELEASE] [CHART]
   -i, --install              if a release by this name doesn't already exist, run an install
       --key-file string      identify HTTPS client using this SSL key file
       --keyring string       path to the keyring that contains public signing keys (default "~/.gnupg/pubring.gpg")
-      --namespace string     namespace to install the release into (only used if --install is set) (default "default")
+      --namespace string     namespace to install the release into (only used if --install is set). Defaults to the current kube config namespace
       --no-hooks             disable pre/post upgrade hooks
       --recreate-pods        performs pods restart for the resource if applicable
       --repo string          chart repository url where to locate the requested chart
@@ -76,4 +76,4 @@ helm upgrade [RELEASE] [CHART]
 ### SEE ALSO
 * [helm](helm.md)	 - The Helm package manager for Kubernetes.
 
-###### Auto generated by spf13/cobra on 23-Jun-2017
+###### Auto generated by spf13/cobra on 15-Aug-2017