diff --git a/core/product_config.rbc b/core/product_config.rbc
index 24e38b1f8f..bde4f2f703 100644
--- a/core/product_config.rbc
+++ b/core/product_config.rbc
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ def _init_globals(version_info):
         globals[k] = getattr(rblf_cli, k)
 
     globals.setdefault("PRODUCT_SOONG_NAMESPACES", [])
-    globals.setdefault(_soong_config_namespaces_key, {})
     _envsetup_init(globals, version_info)
 
     # Variables that should be defined.
@@ -299,10 +298,11 @@ def _indirect(pcm_name):
 def _soong_config_namespace(g, nsname):
     """Adds given namespace if it does not exist."""
 
-    if g[_soong_config_namespaces_key].get(nsname):
+    old = g.get(_soong_config_namespaces_key, {})
+    if old.get(nsname):
         return
+
     # A value cannot be updated, so we need to create a new dictionary
-    old = g[_soong_config_namespaces_key]
     g[_soong_config_namespaces_key] = dict([(k,v) for k,v in old.items()] + [(nsname, {})])
 
 def _soong_config_set(g, nsname, var, value):