diff --git a/kiali-server/templates/_helpers.tpl b/kiali-server/templates/_helpers.tpl
index 409c158..28302a5 100644
--- a/kiali-server/templates/_helpers.tpl
+++ b/kiali-server/templates/_helpers.tpl
@@ -145,3 +145,14 @@ Determine the auth strategy to use - default is "token" on Kubernetes and "opens
   {{- end }}
 {{- end }}
 {{- end }}
+
+{{/*
+Determine the root namespace - default is where Kiali is installed.
+*/}}
+{{- define "kiali-server.external_services.istio.root_namespace" -}}
+{{- if .Values.external_services.istio.root_namespace }}
+  {{- .Values.external_services.istio.root_namespace }}
+{{- else }}
+  {{- .Release.Namespace }}
+{{- end }}
+{{- end }}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/kiali-server/templates/configmap.yaml b/kiali-server/templates/configmap.yaml
index f4bfa09..4d291af 100644
--- a/kiali-server/templates/configmap.yaml
+++ b/kiali-server/templates/configmap.yaml
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ data:
     {{- $_ := set $cm.identity "cert_file" (include "kiali-server.identity.cert_file" .) }}
     {{- $_ := set $cm.identity "private_key_file" (include "kiali-server.identity.private_key_file" .) }}
     {{- $_ := set $cm.login_token "signing_key" (include "kiali-server.login_token.signing_key" .) }}
+    {{- $_ := set $cm.external_services.istio "root_namespace" (include "kiali-server.external_services.istio.root_namespace" .) }}
     {{- $_ := set $cm.server "web_root" (include "kiali-server.server.web_root" .) }}
     {{- toYaml $cm | nindent 4 }}
 ...
diff --git a/kiali-server/values.yaml b/kiali-server/values.yaml
index db002fa..2a24646 100644
--- a/kiali-server/values.yaml
+++ b/kiali-server/values.yaml
@@ -69,6 +69,8 @@ deployment:
 external_services:
   custom_dashboards:
     enabled: true
+  istio:
+    root_namespace: ""
 
 identity: {}
   #cert_file: