diff --git a/cmd/helm/helm.go b/cmd/helm/helm.go
index c309edf71..0e935addb 100644
--- a/cmd/helm/helm.go
+++ b/cmd/helm/helm.go
@@ -64,9 +64,10 @@ func initKubeLogs() {
 func main() {
 	initKubeLogs()
 
-	actionConfig, err := action.InitActionConfig(settings, false, os.Getenv("HELM_DRIVER"), debug)
+	actionConfig := new(action.Configuration)
+	cmd := newRootCmd(actionConfig, os.Stdout, os.Args[1:])
 
-	if err != nil {
+	if err := actionConfig.Init(settings, false, os.Getenv("HELM_DRIVER"), debug); err != nil {
 		debug("%+v", err)
 		switch e := err.(type) {
 		case pluginError:
@@ -76,8 +77,6 @@ func main() {
 		}
 	}
 
-	cmd := newRootCmd(actionConfig, os.Stdout, os.Args[1:])
-
 	if err := cmd.Execute(); err != nil {
 		debug("%+v", err)
 		os.Exit(1)
diff --git a/cmd/helm/list.go b/cmd/helm/list.go
index 50f9a7441..2200c153b 100644
--- a/cmd/helm/list.go
+++ b/cmd/helm/list.go
@@ -70,7 +70,9 @@ func newListCmd(cfg *action.Configuration, out io.Writer) *cobra.Command {
 		Args:    require.NoArgs,
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			if client.AllNamespaces {
-				action.InitActionConfig(settings, true, os.Getenv("HELM_DRIVER"), debug)
+				if err := cfg.Init(settings, true, os.Getenv("HELM_DRIVER"), debug); err != nil {
+					return err
+				}
 			}
 			client.SetStateMask()
 
diff --git a/pkg/action/action.go b/pkg/action/action.go
index 7cfe4a7d3..a36454321 100644
--- a/pkg/action/action.go
+++ b/pkg/action/action.go
@@ -210,9 +210,7 @@ func (c *Configuration) recordRelease(r *release.Release) {
 }
 
 // InitActionConfig initializes the action configuration
-func InitActionConfig(envSettings *cli.EnvSettings, allNamespaces bool, helmDriver string, log DebugLog) (*Configuration, error) {
-
-	var actionConfig Configuration
+func (c *Configuration) Init(envSettings *cli.EnvSettings, allNamespaces bool, helmDriver string, log DebugLog) error {
 	kubeconfig := envSettings.KubeConfig()
 
 	kc := kube.New(kubeconfig)
@@ -220,7 +218,7 @@ func InitActionConfig(envSettings *cli.EnvSettings, allNamespaces bool, helmDriv
 
 	clientset, err := kc.Factory.KubernetesClientSet()
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		return err
 	}
 	var namespace string
 	if !allNamespaces {
@@ -245,10 +243,10 @@ func InitActionConfig(envSettings *cli.EnvSettings, allNamespaces bool, helmDriv
 		panic("Unknown driver in HELM_DRIVER: " + helmDriver)
 	}
 
-	actionConfig.RESTClientGetter = kubeconfig
-	actionConfig.KubeClient = kc
-	actionConfig.Releases = store
-	actionConfig.Log = log
+	c.RESTClientGetter = kubeconfig
+	c.KubeClient = kc
+	c.Releases = store
+	c.Log = log
 
-	return &actionConfig, nil
+	return nil
 }