diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/init.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/init.ts
index fe509a1..b37c047 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/init.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/init.ts
@@ -47,22 +47,7 @@ export async function initCommand(): Promise<void> {
   const externalsTspPath = resolve(typelexDir, "externals.tsp");
 
   console.log("Initializing typelex project...\n");
-
-  // Prompt for namespace
-  let namespace = await promptNamespace();
-
-  // Validate namespace format
-  while (!namespace.endsWith(".*")) {
-    console.error(`Error: namespace must end with .*`);
-    console.error(`Got: ${namespace}\n`);
-    namespace = await promptNamespace();
-  }
-
-  // Remove the .* suffix for use in template
-  const namespacePrefix = namespace.slice(0, -2);
-
-  // Install dependencies first
-  console.log("\nInstalling dependencies...\n");
+  console.log("Installing dependencies...\n");
 
   // Detect package manager
   let packageManager = "npm";
@@ -105,6 +90,19 @@ export async function initCommand(): Promise<void> {
     });
   });
 
+  // Prompt for namespace after successful installation
+  let namespace = await promptNamespace();
+
+  // Validate namespace format
+  while (!namespace.endsWith(".*")) {
+    console.error(`Error: namespace must end with .*`);
+    console.error(`Got: ${namespace}\n`);
+    namespace = await promptNamespace();
+  }
+
+  // Remove the .* suffix for use in template
+  const namespacePrefix = namespace.slice(0, -2);
+
   // Create typelex directory
   await mkdir(typelexDir, { recursive: true });