diff --git a/pkg/kubectl/resource/mapper.go b/pkg/kubectl/resource/mapper.go
index ad2d7c8bc50..5888a8364d9 100644
--- a/pkg/kubectl/resource/mapper.go
+++ b/pkg/kubectl/resource/mapper.go
@@ -46,6 +46,9 @@ func (m *Mapper) InfoForData(data []byte, source string) (*Info, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to get type info from %q: %v", source, err)
 	}
+	if kind == "" {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("kind not set in %q", source)
+	}
 	mapping, err := m.RESTMapping(kind, version)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to recognize %q: %v", source, err)