diff --git a/envs/utils.go b/envs/utils.go
index fbf2d2b..59eef7c 100644
--- a/envs/utils.go
+++ b/envs/utils.go
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ func nativizeEnvMap(stringMap map[string]string) (envMap map[string]interface{})
 	var pathVar string = internal.GetPathEnvName()
 	var err error
 
+	envMap = make(map[string]interface{}, 0)
+
 	for k, v := range stringMap {
 
 		// Check for PATH/Path - we handle this uniquely.