diff --git a/proctor-common/src/main/java/com/indeed/proctor/common/model/PayloadExperimentConfig.java b/proctor-common/src/main/java/com/indeed/proctor/common/model/PayloadExperimentConfig.java
index 4013832c..2a1f802b 100644
--- a/proctor-common/src/main/java/com/indeed/proctor/common/model/PayloadExperimentConfig.java
+++ b/proctor-common/src/main/java/com/indeed/proctor/common/model/PayloadExperimentConfig.java
@@ -4,10 +4,11 @@
 
 import javax.annotation.Nonnull;
 import javax.annotation.Nullable;
+import java.util.Collections;
 import java.util.List;
 
 @Data
 public class PayloadExperimentConfig {
     @Nullable String priority;
-    @Nonnull List<String> namespace;
+    @Nonnull List<String> namespace = Collections.emptyList();
 }