diff --git a/pkg/kubecfg/kubecfg.go b/pkg/kubecfg/kubecfg.go
index 03c84221d4e..d4d9c1ffb89 100644
--- a/pkg/kubecfg/kubecfg.go
+++ b/pkg/kubecfg/kubecfg.go
@@ -159,6 +159,9 @@ func ResizeController(ctx api.Context, name string, replicas int, client client.
 }
 
 func portsFromString(spec string) []api.Port {
+	if spec == "" {
+		return []api.Port{}
+	}
 	parts := strings.Split(spec, ",")
 	var result []api.Port
 	for _, part := range parts {
diff --git a/pkg/kubecfg/kubecfg_test.go b/pkg/kubecfg/kubecfg_test.go
index 84b8d7c0abc..399a85f330b 100644
--- a/pkg/kubecfg/kubecfg_test.go
+++ b/pkg/kubecfg/kubecfg_test.go
@@ -285,6 +285,10 @@ func TestMakePorts(t *testing.T) {
 				{HostPort: 443, ContainerPort: 444},
 			},
 		},
+		{
+			"",
+			[]api.Port{},
+		},
 	}
 	for _, tt := range testCases {
 		ports := portsFromString(tt.spec)