diff --git a/lib/firebase.js b/lib/firebase.js
index f38ea764..b31352f5 100644
--- a/lib/firebase.js
+++ b/lib/firebase.js
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ class FirebaseCore {
       // default to the 'DEFAULT' app if no arg provided - will throw an error
       // if default app not initialized
       else if (!_app) _app = this.app(INTERNALS.STRINGS.DEFAULT_APP_NAME);
-      return INTERNALS.APPS[_app.name][namespace](_app);
+      return INTERNALS.APPS[_app._name][namespace](_app);
     };
 
     Object.assign(getNamespace, statics, {