diff --git a/zebra/zebra_errors.c b/zebra/zebra_errors.c
index 5a0905d59115..ef792d14c285 100644
--- a/zebra/zebra_errors.c
+++ b/zebra/zebra_errors.c
@@ -316,6 +316,12 @@ static struct log_ref ferr_zebra_err[] = {
 		.description = "Zebra attempted to look up a interface for a particular vrf_id and interface index, but didn't find anything.",
 		.suggestion = "If you entered a command to trigger this error, make sure you entered the arguments correctly. Check your config file for any potential errors. If these look correct, seek help.",
 	},
+	{
+		.code = EC_ZEBRA_NS_NO_DEFAULT,
+		.title = "Zebra NameSpace failed to find Default",
+		.description = "Zebra NameSpace subsystem failed to find a Default namespace during initialization.",
+		.suggestion = "Open an Issue with all relevant log files and restart FRR",
+	},
 	/* Warnings */
 	{
 		.code = EC_ZEBRAING_LM_PROTO_MISMATCH,
diff --git a/zebra/zebra_errors.h b/zebra/zebra_errors.h
index f9ccc2db282d..4625a03ae644 100644
--- a/zebra/zebra_errors.h
+++ b/zebra/zebra_errors.h
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ enum zebra_log_refs {
 	EC_ZEBRA_NHG_SYNC,
 	EC_ZEBRA_NHG_FIB_UPDATE,
 	EC_ZEBRA_IF_LOOKUP_FAILED,
+	EC_ZEBRA_NS_NO_DEFAULT,
 	/* warnings */
 	EC_ZEBRA_NS_NOTIFY_READ,
 	EC_ZEBRAING_LM_PROTO_MISMATCH,
diff --git a/zebra/zebra_ns.c b/zebra/zebra_ns.c
index 37f53bf91187..4d971cc24f10 100644
--- a/zebra/zebra_ns.c
+++ b/zebra/zebra_ns.c
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
 #include "zebra_pbr.h"
 #include "rib.h"
 #include "table_manager.h"
+#include "zebra_errors.h"
 
 extern struct zebra_privs_t zserv_privs;
 
@@ -64,6 +65,9 @@ static int zebra_ns_new(struct ns *ns)
 {
 	struct zebra_ns *zns;
 
+	if (!ns)
+		return -1;
+
 	if (IS_ZEBRA_DEBUG_EVENT)
 		zlog_info("ZNS %s with id %u (created)", ns->name, ns->ns_id);
 
@@ -175,19 +179,26 @@ int zebra_ns_final_shutdown(struct ns *ns)
 
 int zebra_ns_init(const char *optional_default_name)
 {
+	struct ns *default_ns;
 	ns_id_t ns_id;
 	ns_id_t ns_id_external;
 
-	dzns = zebra_ns_alloc();
-
 	frr_with_privs(&zserv_privs) {
 		ns_id = zebra_ns_id_get_default();
 	}
 	ns_id_external = ns_map_nsid_with_external(ns_id, true);
 	ns_init_management(ns_id_external, ns_id);
 
+	default_ns = ns_lookup(ns_get_default_id());
+	if (!default_ns) {
+		flog_err(EC_ZEBRA_NS_NO_DEFAULT,
+			 "%s: failed to find default ns", __func__);
+		exit(EXIT_FAILURE); /* This is non-recoverable */
+	}
+
 	/* Do any needed per-NS data structure allocation. */
-	dzns->if_table = route_table_init();
+	zebra_ns_new(default_ns);
+	dzns = default_ns->info;
 
 	/* Register zebra VRF callbacks, create and activate default VRF. */
 	zebra_vrf_init();