diff --git a/hack/make-rules/test-cmd.sh b/hack/make-rules/test-cmd.sh
index 6ab1e26edf..ec75f70e41 100755
--- a/hack/make-rules/test-cmd.sh
+++ b/hack/make-rules/test-cmd.sh
@@ -1548,9 +1548,9 @@ __EOF__
   # Clean up
   kubectl delete namespace my-namespace
 
-  ##############
+  ######################
   # Pods in Namespaces #
-  ##############
+  ######################
 
   ### Create a new namespace
   # Pre-condition: the other namespace does not exist
@@ -1569,6 +1569,9 @@ __EOF__
   kube::test::get_object_assert 'pods --namespace=other' "{{range.items}}{{$id_field}}:{{end}}" 'valid-pod:'
   # Post-condition: verify shorthand `-n other` has the same results as `--namespace=other`
   kube::test::get_object_assert 'pods -n other' "{{range.items}}{{$id_field}}:{{end}}" 'valid-pod:'
+  # Post-condition: a resource cannot be retrieved by name across all namespaces
+  output_message=$(! kubectl get "${kube_flags[@]}" pod valid-pod --all-namespaces 2>&1)
+  kube::test::if_has_string "${output_message}" "a resource cannot be retrieved by name across all namespaces"
 
   ### Delete POD valid-pod in specific namespace
   # Pre-condition: valid-pod POD exists
@@ -1580,9 +1583,9 @@ __EOF__
   # Clean up
   kubectl delete namespace other
 
-  ##############
+  ###########
   # Secrets #
-  ##############
+  ###########
 
   ### Create a new namespace
   # Pre-condition: the test-secrets namespace does not exist
diff --git a/pkg/kubectl/resource/builder.go b/pkg/kubectl/resource/builder.go
index ad7f399e79..0f8869adb1 100644
--- a/pkg/kubectl/resource/builder.go
+++ b/pkg/kubectl/resource/builder.go
@@ -55,8 +55,9 @@ type Builder struct {
 
 	resources []string
 
-	namespace string
-	names     []string
+	namespace    string
+	allNamespace bool
+	names        []string
 
 	resourceTuples []resourceTuple
 
@@ -296,6 +297,7 @@ func (b *Builder) AllNamespaces(allNamespace bool) *Builder {
 	if allNamespace {
 		b.namespace = api.NamespaceAll
 	}
+	b.allNamespace = allNamespace
 	return b
 }
 
@@ -644,7 +646,11 @@ func (b *Builder) visitByResource() *Result {
 			selectorNamespace = ""
 		} else {
 			if len(b.namespace) == 0 {
-				return &Result{singular: isSingular, err: fmt.Errorf("namespace may not be empty when retrieving a resource by name")}
+				errMsg := "namespace may not be empty when retrieving a resource by name"
+				if b.allNamespace {
+					errMsg = "a resource cannot be retrieved by name across all namespaces"
+				}
+				return &Result{singular: isSingular, err: fmt.Errorf(errMsg)}
 			}
 		}
 
@@ -690,7 +696,11 @@ func (b *Builder) visitByName() *Result {
 		selectorNamespace = ""
 	} else {
 		if len(b.namespace) == 0 {
-			return &Result{singular: isSingular, err: fmt.Errorf("namespace may not be empty when retrieving a resource by name")}
+			errMsg := "namespace may not be empty when retrieving a resource by name"
+			if b.allNamespace {
+				errMsg = "a resource cannot be retrieved by name across all namespaces"
+			}
+			return &Result{singular: isSingular, err: fmt.Errorf(errMsg)}
 		}
 	}