diff --git a/templates/chipper-initialization.js b/templates/chipper-initialization.js
index 105f088ad..ce550a61f 100644
--- a/templates/chipper-initialization.js
+++ b/templates/chipper-initialization.js
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+window.phet = window.phet|| {};
+window.phet.chipper = window.phet.chipper || {};
 
 window.phet.chipper.project = '{{PHET_PROJECT}}';
 window.phet.chipper.version = '{{PHET_VERSION}}';