diff --git a/src/snowflake/cli/api/project/definition_manager.py b/src/snowflake/cli/api/project/definition_manager.py
index d0cae66812..663e581563 100644
--- a/src/snowflake/cli/api/project/definition_manager.py
+++ b/src/snowflake/cli/api/project/definition_manager.py
@@ -26,11 +26,10 @@ class DefinitionManager:
     _project_config_paths: List[Path]
 
     def __init__(self, project_arg: Optional[str] = None) -> None:
-        search_path = os.getcwd()
-        if project_arg:
-            search_path = os.path.abspath(project_arg)
-        project_root = DefinitionManager.find_project_root(Path(search_path))
-        if not project_root:
+        project_root = Path(
+            os.path.abspath(project_arg) if project_arg else os.getcwd()
+        )
+        if not self._base_definition_file_if_available(project_root):
             raise MissingConfiguration(
                 f"Cannot find project definition (snowflake.yml). Please provide a path to the project or run this command in a valid project directory."
             )
diff --git a/tests/project/test_definition_manager.py b/tests/project/test_definition_manager.py
index 385dec20d1..165b701ea0 100644
--- a/tests/project/test_definition_manager.py
+++ b/tests/project/test_definition_manager.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 from unittest import TestCase, mock
 from unittest.mock import patch
 
+from snowflake.cli.api.exceptions import MissingConfiguration
 from snowflake.cli.api.project.definition_manager import DefinitionManager
 
 from tests.project.fixtures import *
@@ -40,29 +41,22 @@ def test_finds_local_project_definition(self, mock_getcwd):
     @mock.patch("os.path.abspath", return_value="/hello/world/test")
     def test_double_dash_project_parameter_provided(self, mock_abs):
         with mock_is_file_for("/hello/world/snowflake.yml") as mock_is_file:
-            definition_manager = DefinitionManager("/hello/world/test")
-            assert definition_manager._project_config_paths == [
-                Path("/hello/world/snowflake.yml")
-            ]
+            with pytest.raises(MissingConfiguration):
+                DefinitionManager("/hello/world/test")
 
     @mock.patch("os.path.abspath", return_value="/hello/world/test/again")
     def test_dash_p_parameter_provided(self, mock_abs):
         with mock_is_file_for("/hello/world/snowflake.yml") as mock_is_file:
-            definition_manager = DefinitionManager("/hello/world/test/again")
-            assert definition_manager._project_config_paths == [
-                Path("/hello/world/snowflake.yml")
-            ]
+            with pytest.raises(MissingConfiguration):
+                DefinitionManager("/hello/world/test/again")
 
     @mock.patch("os.getcwd", return_value="/hello/world")
     @mock.patch("os.path.abspath", return_value="/hello/world/relative")
     def test_dash_p_with_relative_parameter_provided(self, mock_abs, mock_getcwd):
         with mock_is_file_for("/hello/world/snowflake.yml") as mock_is_file:
             mock_getcwd.return_value = "/hello/world"
-            definition_manager = DefinitionManager("./relative")
-            mock_abs.assert_called_with("./relative")
-            assert definition_manager._project_config_paths == [
-                Path("/hello/world/snowflake.yml")
-            ]
+            with pytest.raises(MissingConfiguration):
+                DefinitionManager("./relative")
 
     @mock.patch("os.path.abspath", return_value="/tmp")
     def test_find_definition_files_reached_root(self, mock_abs):