diff --git a/controllers/chaosengine_controller.go b/controllers/chaosengine_controller.go
index 15d514007..6ab2564ef 100644
--- a/controllers/chaosengine_controller.go
+++ b/controllers/chaosengine_controller.go
@@ -647,6 +647,8 @@ func getTargets(engine *chaosTypes.EngineInfo) string {
 
 	if engine.AppInfo.Appns == "" {
 		engine.AppInfo.Appns = engine.Instance.Namespace
+	} else if engine.AppInfo.Appns == "ALL_NAMESPACES" {
+		engine.AppInfo.Appns = ""
 	}
 
 	if engine.AppInfo.AppKind == "" {