diff --git a/app/cmd/install.go b/app/cmd/install.go
index 27c1ca34..397e098c 100644
--- a/app/cmd/install.go
+++ b/app/cmd/install.go
@@ -16,9 +16,10 @@ package cmd
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"github.com/spf13/viper"
 	"os"
 
+	"github.com/spf13/viper"
+
 	"github.com/MakeNowJust/heredoc"
 	"github.com/helm/chart-testing/pkg/chart"
 	"github.com/helm/chart-testing/pkg/config"
@@ -61,7 +62,13 @@ func addInstallFlags(flags *flag.FlagSet) {
 		the ID of a pull request. If not specified, the name of the chart is used`))
 	flags.String("helm-extra-args", "", heredoc.Doc(`
 		Additional arguments for Helm. Must be passed as a single quoted string
-		(e. g. "--timeout 500 --tiller-namespace tiller"`))
+		(e.g. "--timeout 500 --tiller-namespace tiller"`))
+	flags.String("namespace", "", heredoc.Doc(`
+		Namespace to install the release(s) into. If not specified, each release will be
+		installed in its own randomly generated namespace.`))
+	flags.String("release-label", "app.kubernetes.io/instance", heredoc.Doc(`
+		The label to be used as a selector when inspecting resources created by charts.
+		This is only used if namespace is specified.`))
 }
 
 func install(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
@@ -89,6 +96,6 @@ func install(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 }
 
 func bindInstallFlags(flagSet *flag.FlagSet, v *viper.Viper) error {
-	options := []string{"build-id", "helm-extra-args"}
+	options := []string{"build-id", "helm-extra-args", "namespace", "release-label"}
 	return bindFlags(options, flagSet, v)
 }
diff --git a/doc/ct.md b/doc/ct.md
index dac28c02..4de1db1f 100644
--- a/doc/ct.md
+++ b/doc/ct.md
@@ -25,4 +25,4 @@ in given chart directories.
 * [ct lint-and-install](ct_lint-and-install.md)	 - Lint, install, and test a chart
 * [ct version](ct_version.md)	 - Print version information
 
-###### Auto generated by spf13/cobra on 6-Nov-2018
+###### Auto generated by spf13/cobra on 17-Nov-2018
diff --git a/doc/ct_install.md b/doc/ct_install.md
index 51415537..36557115 100644
--- a/doc/ct_install.md
+++ b/doc/ct_install.md
@@ -43,8 +43,12 @@ ct install [flags]
       --excluded-charts strings   Charts that should be skipped. May be specified multiple times
                                   or separate values with commas
       --helm-extra-args string    Additional arguments for Helm. Must be passed as a single quoted string
-                                  (e. g. "--timeout 500 --tiller-namespace tiller"
+                                  (e.g. "--timeout 500 --tiller-namespace tiller"
   -h, --help                      help for install
+      --namespace string          Namespace to install the release(s) into. If not specified, each release will be
+                                  installed in its own randomly generated namespace.
+      --release-label string      The label to be used as a selector when inspecting resources created by charts.
+                                  This is only used if namespace is specified. (default "app.kubernetes.io/instance")
       --remote string             The name of the Git remote used to identify changed charts (default "origin")
       --target-branch string      The name of the target branch used to identify changed charts (default "master")
 ```
@@ -53,4 +57,4 @@ ct install [flags]
 
 * [ct](ct.md)	 - The Helm chart testing tool
 
-###### Auto generated by spf13/cobra on 6-Nov-2018
+###### Auto generated by spf13/cobra on 17-Nov-2018
diff --git a/doc/ct_lint-and-install.md b/doc/ct_lint-and-install.md
index f8a97b8f..4035bfb6 100644
--- a/doc/ct_lint-and-install.md
+++ b/doc/ct_lint-and-install.md
@@ -35,11 +35,15 @@ ct lint-and-install [flags]
       --excluded-charts strings    Charts that should be skipped. May be specified multiple times
                                    or separate values with commas
       --helm-extra-args string     Additional arguments for Helm. Must be passed as a single quoted string
-                                   (e. g. "--timeout 500 --tiller-namespace tiller"
+                                   (e.g. "--timeout 500 --tiller-namespace tiller"
   -h, --help                       help for lint-and-install
       --lint-conf string           The config file for YAML linting. If not specified, 'lintconf.yaml'
                                    is searched in the current directory, '$HOME/.ct', and '/etc/ct', in
                                    that order
+      --namespace string           Namespace to install the release(s) into. If not specified, each release will be
+                                   installed in its own randomly generated namespace.
+      --release-label string       The label to be used as a selector when inspecting resources created by charts.
+                                   This is only used if namespace is specified. (default "app.kubernetes.io/instance")
       --remote string              The name of the Git remote used to identify changed charts (default "origin")
       --target-branch string       The name of the target branch used to identify changed charts (default "master")
       --validate-maintainers       Enabled validation of maintainer account names in chart.yml (default: true).
@@ -50,4 +54,4 @@ ct lint-and-install [flags]
 
 * [ct](ct.md)	 - The Helm chart testing tool
 
-###### Auto generated by spf13/cobra on 6-Nov-2018
+###### Auto generated by spf13/cobra on 17-Nov-2018
diff --git a/doc/ct_lint.md b/doc/ct_lint.md
index c6f939a3..f1bd5c6c 100644
--- a/doc/ct_lint.md
+++ b/doc/ct_lint.md
@@ -58,4 +58,4 @@ ct lint [flags]
 
 * [ct](ct.md)	 - The Helm chart testing tool
 
-###### Auto generated by spf13/cobra on 6-Nov-2018
+###### Auto generated by spf13/cobra on 17-Nov-2018
diff --git a/doc/ct_version.md b/doc/ct_version.md
index f02c4eba..a8c6f68e 100644
--- a/doc/ct_version.md
+++ b/doc/ct_version.md
@@ -20,4 +20,4 @@ ct version [flags]
 
 * [ct](ct.md)	 - The Helm chart testing tool
 
-###### Auto generated by spf13/cobra on 6-Nov-2018
+###### Auto generated by spf13/cobra on 17-Nov-2018
diff --git a/pkg/chart/chart.go b/pkg/chart/chart.go
index 8728e52f..10425679 100644
--- a/pkg/chart/chart.go
+++ b/pkg/chart/chart.go
@@ -16,11 +16,12 @@ package chart
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"github.com/helm/chart-testing/pkg/exec"
 	"path"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 
+	"github.com/helm/chart-testing/pkg/exec"
+
 	"github.com/helm/chart-testing/pkg/config"
 	"github.com/helm/chart-testing/pkg/tool"
 	"github.com/helm/chart-testing/pkg/util"
@@ -54,23 +55,20 @@ type Git interface {
 //
 // BuildDependencies builds the chart's dependencies
 //
-// Lint runs `helm lint` for the given chart
-//
-// LintWithValues runs `helm lint` for the given chart using the specified values file
-//
-// Install runs `helm install` for the given chart
+// LintWithValues runs `helm lint` for the given chart using the specified values file.
+// Pass a zero value for valuesFile in order to run lint without specifying a values file.
 //
-// InstallWithValues runs `helm install` for the given chart using the specified values file
+// InstallWithValues runs `helm install` for the given chart using the specified values file.
+// Pass a zero value for valuesFile in order to run install without specifying a values file.
 //
 // DeleteRelease purges the specified Helm release.
 type Helm interface {
 	Init() error
 	AddRepo(name string, url string) error
 	BuildDependencies(chart string) error
-	Lint(chart string) error
 	LintWithValues(chart string, valuesFile string) error
-	Install(chart string, namespace string, release string) error
 	InstallWithValues(chart string, valuesFile string, namespace string, release string) error
+	Test(release string) error
 	DeleteRelease(release string)
 }
 
@@ -93,7 +91,7 @@ type Helm interface {
 // GetContainers gets all containers of pod
 type Kubectl interface {
 	DeleteNamespace(namespace string)
-	WaitForDeployments(namespace string) error
+	WaitForDeployments(namespace string, selector string) error
 	GetPodsforDeployment(namespace string, deployment string) ([]string, error)
 	GetPods(args ...string) ([]string, error)
 	DescribePod(namespace string, pod string) error
@@ -112,7 +110,7 @@ type Linter interface {
 	Yamale(yamlFile string, schemaFile string) error
 }
 
-// DiretoryLister is the interface
+// DirectoryLister is the interface
 //
 // ListChildDirs lists direct child directories of parentDir given they pass the test function
 type DirectoryLister interface {
@@ -162,13 +160,12 @@ type TestResult struct {
 // NewTesting creates a new Testing struct with the given config.
 func NewTesting(config config.Configuration) Testing {
 	procExec := exec.NewProcessExecutor(config.Debug)
-	kubectl := tool.NewKubectl(procExec)
 	extraArgs := strings.Fields(config.HelmExtraArgs)
 	testing := Testing{
 		config:           config,
-		helm:             tool.NewHelm(procExec, kubectl, extraArgs),
+		helm:             tool.NewHelm(procExec, extraArgs),
 		git:              tool.NewGit(procExec),
-		kubectl:          kubectl,
+		kubectl:          tool.NewKubectl(procExec),
 		linter:           tool.NewLinter(procExec),
 		accountValidator: tool.AccountValidator{},
 		directoryLister:  util.DirectoryLister{},
@@ -244,7 +241,7 @@ func (t *Testing) InstallCharts() ([]TestResult, error) {
 	return t.processCharts(t.InstallChart)
 }
 
-// LintAndInstallChart first lints and then installs charts (changed, all, specific) depending on the configuration.
+// LintAndInstallCharts first lints and then installs charts (changed, all, specific) depending on the configuration.
 func (t *Testing) LintAndInstallCharts() ([]TestResult, error) {
 	return t.processCharts(t.LintAndInstallChart)
 }
@@ -303,16 +300,15 @@ func (t *Testing) LintChart(chart string, valuesFiles []string) TestResult {
 		}
 	}
 
-	if len(valuesFiles) > 0 {
-		for _, valuesFile := range valuesFiles {
-			if err := t.helm.LintWithValues(chart, valuesFile); err != nil {
-				result.Error = err
-				break
-			}
-		}
-	} else {
-		if err := t.helm.Lint(chart); err != nil {
+	// Lint with defaults if no values files are specified.
+	if len(valuesFiles) == 0 {
+		valuesFiles = append(valuesFiles, "")
+	}
+
+	for _, valuesFile := range valuesFiles {
+		if err := t.helm.LintWithValues(chart, valuesFile); err != nil {
 			result.Error = err
+			break
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -326,28 +322,37 @@ func (t *Testing) InstallChart(chart string, valuesFiles []string) TestResult {
 
 	result := TestResult{Chart: chart}
 
-	if len(valuesFiles) > 0 {
-		for _, valuesFile := range valuesFiles {
-			release, namespace := util.CreateInstallParams(chart, t.config.BuildId)
+	// Test with defaults if no values files are specified.
+	if len(valuesFiles) == 0 {
+		valuesFiles = append(valuesFiles, "")
+	}
 
-			defer t.kubectl.DeleteNamespace(namespace)
-			defer t.helm.DeleteRelease(release)
-			defer t.PrintPodDetailsAndLogs(namespace)
+	for _, valuesFile := range valuesFiles {
+		var namespace, release, releaseSelector string
 
-			if err := t.helm.InstallWithValues(chart, valuesFile, namespace, release); err != nil {
-				result.Error = err
-				break
-			}
+		if t.config.Namespace != "" {
+			namespace = t.config.Namespace
+			release, _ = util.CreateInstallParams(chart, t.config.BuildId)
+			releaseSelector = fmt.Sprintf("%s=%s", t.config.ReleaseLabel, release)
+		} else {
+			release, namespace = util.CreateInstallParams(chart, t.config.BuildId)
+			defer t.kubectl.DeleteNamespace(namespace)
 		}
-	} else {
-		release, namespace := util.CreateInstallParams(chart, t.config.BuildId)
 
-		defer t.kubectl.DeleteNamespace(namespace)
 		defer t.helm.DeleteRelease(release)
-		defer t.PrintPodDetailsAndLogs(namespace)
+		defer t.PrintPodDetailsAndLogs(namespace, releaseSelector)
 
-		if err := t.helm.Install(chart, namespace, release); err != nil {
+		if err := t.helm.InstallWithValues(chart, valuesFile, namespace, release); err != nil {
+			result.Error = err
+			break
+		}
+		if err := t.kubectl.WaitForDeployments(namespace, releaseSelector); err != nil {
+			result.Error = err
+			break
+		}
+		if err := t.helm.Test(release); err != nil {
 			result.Error = err
+			break
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -533,8 +538,16 @@ func (t *Testing) ValidateMaintainers(chart string) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (t *Testing) PrintPodDetailsAndLogs(namespace string) {
-	pods, err := t.kubectl.GetPods("--no-headers", "--namespace", namespace, "--output", "jsonpath={.items[*].metadata.name}")
+func (t *Testing) PrintPodDetailsAndLogs(namespace string, selector string) {
+	pods, err := t.kubectl.GetPods(
+		"--no-headers",
+		"--namespace",
+		namespace,
+		"--selector",
+		selector,
+		"--output",
+		"jsonpath={.items[*].metadata.name}",
+	)
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Println("Error printing logs:", err)
 		return
diff --git a/pkg/chart/chart_test.go b/pkg/chart/chart_test.go
index 15954cac..f9ca9e7d 100644
--- a/pkg/chart/chart_test.go
+++ b/pkg/chart/chart_test.go
@@ -97,17 +97,20 @@ func (v fakeAccountValidator) Validate(repoDomain string, account string) error
 type fakeLinter struct{}
 
 func (l fakeLinter) YamlLint(yamlFile, configFile string) error { return nil }
-func (l fakeLinter) Yamale(yamlFile, schemaFile string)  error { return nil }
+func (l fakeLinter) Yamale(yamlFile, schemaFile string) error   { return nil }
 
 type fakeHelm struct{}
 
-func (h fakeHelm) Init() error { return nil }
-func (h fakeHelm) AddRepo(name, url string) error { return nil }
-func (h fakeHelm) BuildDependencies(chart string) error { return nil }
-func (h fakeHelm) Lint(chart string) error { return nil }
+func (h fakeHelm) Init() error                                          { return nil }
+func (h fakeHelm) AddRepo(name, url string) error                       { return nil }
+func (h fakeHelm) BuildDependencies(chart string) error                 { return nil }
 func (h fakeHelm) LintWithValues(chart string, valuesFile string) error { return nil }
-func (h fakeHelm) Install(chart string, namespace string, release string) error { return nil }
-func (h fakeHelm) InstallWithValues(chart string, valuesFile string, namespace string, release string) error { return nil }
+func (h fakeHelm) InstallWithValues(chart string, valuesFile string, namespace string, release string) error {
+	return nil
+}
+func (h fakeHelm) Test(release string) error {
+	return nil
+}
 func (h fakeHelm) DeleteRelease(release string) {}
 
 var ct Testing
@@ -123,8 +126,8 @@ func init() {
 		git:              fakeGit{},
 		chartUtils:       fakeChartUtils{},
 		accountValidator: fakeAccountValidator{},
-		linter: 		  fakeLinter{},
-		helm: 			  fakeHelm{},
+		linter:           fakeLinter{},
+		helm:             fakeHelm{},
 	}
 }
 
@@ -166,9 +169,9 @@ func TestValidateMaintainers(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestLintChartMaintainerValidation(t *testing.T) {
 	type testData struct {
-			name     string
-			chartDir string
-			expected bool
+		name     string
+		chartDir string
+		expected bool
 	}
 
 	runTests := func(validate bool) {
@@ -181,7 +184,7 @@ func TestLintChartMaintainerValidation(t *testing.T) {
 			suffix = "without-validation"
 		}
 
-		testCases := []testData {
+		testCases := []testData{
 			{fmt.Sprintf("maintainers-%s", suffix), "testdata/valid_maintainers", true},
 			{fmt.Sprintf("no-maintainers-%s", suffix), "testdata/no_maintainers", !validate},
 		}
diff --git a/pkg/config/config.go b/pkg/config/config.go
index f22687c5..9196278f 100644
--- a/pkg/config/config.go
+++ b/pkg/config/config.go
@@ -16,11 +16,12 @@ package config
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"github.com/mitchellh/go-homedir"
 	"path"
 	"reflect"
 	"strings"
 
+	"github.com/mitchellh/go-homedir"
+
 	"github.com/helm/chart-testing/pkg/util"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
@@ -52,6 +53,8 @@ type Configuration struct {
 	ExcludedCharts        []string `mapstructure:"excluded-charts"`
 	HelmExtraArgs         string   `mapstructure:"helm-extra-args"`
 	Debug                 bool     `mapstructure:"debug"`
+	Namespace             string   `mapstructure:"namespace"`
+	ReleaseLabel          string   `mapstructure:"release-label"`
 }
 
 func LoadConfiguration(cfgFile string, cmd *cobra.Command, bindFlagsFunc ...func(flagSet *flag.FlagSet, viper *viper.Viper) error) (*Configuration, error) {
@@ -90,7 +93,11 @@ func LoadConfiguration(cfgFile string, cmd *cobra.Command, bindFlagsFunc ...func
 	}
 
 	if cfg.ProcessAllCharts && len(cfg.Charts) > 0 {
-		return nil, errors.New("Specifying both, '--all' and '--charts', is not allowed!")
+		return nil, errors.New("specifying both, '--all' and '--charts', is not allowed")
+	}
+
+	if cfg.Namespace != "" && cfg.ReleaseLabel == "" {
+		return nil, errors.New("specifying '--namespace' without '--release-label' is not allowed")
 	}
 
 	isLint := strings.Contains(cmd.Use, "lint")
diff --git a/pkg/config/config_test.go b/pkg/config/config_test.go
index 92b25f85..95166361 100644
--- a/pkg/config/config_test.go
+++ b/pkg/config/config_test.go
@@ -15,9 +15,10 @@
 package config
 
 import (
+	"testing"
+
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
-	"testing"
 )
 
 func TestUnmarshalYaml(t *testing.T) {
@@ -43,4 +44,6 @@ func loadAndAssertConfigFromFile(t *testing.T, configFile string) {
 	require.Equal(t, []string{"stable", "incubator"}, cfg.ChartDirs)
 	require.Equal(t, []string{"common"}, cfg.ExcludedCharts)
 	require.Equal(t, "--timeout 300", cfg.HelmExtraArgs)
+	require.Equal(t, "default", cfg.Namespace)
+	require.Equal(t, "release", cfg.ReleaseLabel)
 }
diff --git a/pkg/config/test_config.json b/pkg/config/test_config.json
index 87f8109c..3b3f9724 100644
--- a/pkg/config/test_config.json
+++ b/pkg/config/test_config.json
@@ -18,5 +18,7 @@
     "excluded-charts": [
         "common"
     ],
-    "helm-extra-args": "--timeout 300"
+    "helm-extra-args": "--timeout 300",
+    "namespace": "default",
+    "release-label": "release"
 }
diff --git a/pkg/config/test_config.yaml b/pkg/config/test_config.yaml
index 9fd054d3..feaf213a 100644
--- a/pkg/config/test_config.yaml
+++ b/pkg/config/test_config.yaml
@@ -15,3 +15,5 @@ chart-dirs:
 excluded-charts:
   - common
 helm-extra-args: --timeout 300
+namespace: default
+release-label: release
diff --git a/pkg/tool/helm.go b/pkg/tool/helm.go
index 6a2b2365..9b15537a 100644
--- a/pkg/tool/helm.go
+++ b/pkg/tool/helm.go
@@ -16,19 +16,18 @@ package tool
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+
 	"github.com/helm/chart-testing/pkg/exec"
 )
 
 type Helm struct {
 	exec      exec.ProcessExecutor
-	kubectl   Kubectl
 	extraArgs []string
 }
 
-func NewHelm(exec exec.ProcessExecutor, kubectl Kubectl, extraArgs []string) Helm {
+func NewHelm(exec exec.ProcessExecutor, extraArgs []string) Helm {
 	return Helm{
 		exec:      exec,
-		kubectl:   kubectl,
 		extraArgs: extraArgs,
 	}
 }
@@ -45,16 +44,13 @@ func (h Helm) BuildDependencies(chart string) error {
 	return h.exec.RunProcess("helm", "dependency", "build", chart)
 }
 
-func (h Helm) Lint(chart string) error {
-	return h.exec.RunProcess("helm", "lint", chart)
-}
-
 func (h Helm) LintWithValues(chart string, valuesFile string) error {
-	return h.exec.RunProcess("helm", "lint", chart, "--values", valuesFile)
-}
+	var values []string
+	if valuesFile != "" {
+		values = []string{"--values", valuesFile}
+	}
 
-func (h Helm) Install(chart string, namespace string, release string) error {
-	return h.InstallWithValues(chart, "", namespace, release)
+	return h.exec.RunProcess("helm", "lint", chart, values)
 }
 
 func (h Helm) InstallWithValues(chart string, valuesFile string, namespace string, release string) error {
@@ -68,10 +64,10 @@ func (h Helm) InstallWithValues(chart string, valuesFile string, namespace strin
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if err := h.kubectl.WaitForDeployments(namespace); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
+	return nil
+}
 
+func (h Helm) Test(release string) error {
 	return h.exec.RunProcess("helm", "test", release, h.extraArgs)
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/tool/kubectl.go b/pkg/tool/kubectl.go
index aefd12e2..bd027f9f 100644
--- a/pkg/tool/kubectl.go
+++ b/pkg/tool/kubectl.go
@@ -51,9 +51,9 @@ func (k Kubectl) DeleteNamespace(namespace string) {
 	}
 }
 
-func (k Kubectl) WaitForDeployments(namespace string) error {
+func (k Kubectl) WaitForDeployments(namespace string, selector string) error {
 	output, err := k.exec.RunProcessAndCaptureOutput(
-		"kubectl", "get", "deployments", "--namespace", namespace, "--output", "jsonpath={.items[*].metadata.name}")
+		"kubectl", "get", "deployments", "--namespace", namespace, "--selector", selector, "--output", "jsonpath={.items[*].metadata.name}")
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}