diff --git a/cmd/configure/configure.go b/cmd/configure/configure.go
index 7c8aaf8b..ed1bae01 100644
--- a/cmd/configure/configure.go
+++ b/cmd/configure/configure.go
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ func (cfg *Configs) loadInteractive(cmd *cobra.Command) error {
 			Default: func(res prompt.Results) string {
 				return cfg.Host
 			},
-			Callback: func(ans prompt.Answer, prj *project.Project, res prompt.Results) {
+			Callback: func(ans prompt.Answer, config *project.Config, res prompt.Results) {
 				cfg.Host = ans.Value
 			},
 		})
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ func (cfg *Configs) loadInteractive(cmd *cobra.Command) error {
 			Default: func(res prompt.Results) string {
 				return cfg.Token
 			},
-			Callback: func(ans prompt.Answer, prj *project.Project, res prompt.Results) {
+			Callback: func(ans prompt.Answer, config *project.Config, res prompt.Results) {
 				cfg.Token = ans.Value
 			},
 		})
diff --git a/cmd/fs/ls.go b/cmd/fs/ls.go
index 5e4845dd..1f5e878b 100644
--- a/cmd/fs/ls.go
+++ b/cmd/fs/ls.go
@@ -13,8 +13,10 @@ var lsCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Short: "Lists files",
 	Long:  `Lists files`,
 	Args:  cobra.ExactArgs(1),
+
+	PreRunE: project.Configure,
 	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
-		wsc := project.Current.WorkspacesClient()
+		wsc := project.Get(cmd.Context()).WorkspacesClient()
 		listStatusResponse, err := wsc.Dbfs.ListByPath(cmd.Context(), args[0])
 		if err != nil {
 			panic(err)
diff --git a/cmd/init/init.go b/cmd/init/init.go
index a921b5dc..ea67238d 100644
--- a/cmd/init/init.go
+++ b/cmd/init/init.go
@@ -38,8 +38,8 @@ var initCmd = &cobra.Command{
 				Default: func(res prompt.Results) string {
 					return path.Base(wd)
 				},
-				Callback: func(ans prompt.Answer, prj *project.Project, res prompt.Results) {
-					prj.Name = ans.Value
+				Callback: func(ans prompt.Answer, config *project.Config, res prompt.Results) {
+					config.Name = ans.Value
 				},
 			},
 			*profileChoice,
@@ -65,8 +65,8 @@ var initCmd = &cobra.Command{
 					Value:   "Soft",
 					Details: "Prepend prefixes to each team member's deployment",
 					Callback: func(
-						ans prompt.Answer, prj *project.Project, res prompt.Results) {
-						prj.Isolation = project.Soft
+						ans prompt.Answer, config *project.Config, res prompt.Results) {
+						config.Isolation = project.Soft
 					},
 				},
 			}},
@@ -92,14 +92,14 @@ var initCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-		var prj project.Project
+		var config project.Config
 		for _, ans := range res {
 			if ans.Callback == nil {
 				continue
 			}
-			ans.Callback(ans, &prj, res)
+			ans.Callback(ans, &config, res)
 		}
-		raw, err := yaml.Marshal(prj)
+		raw, err := yaml.Marshal(config)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
diff --git a/cmd/init/legacy-cli.go b/cmd/init/legacy-cli.go
index 8eb64252..d2c66cbf 100644
--- a/cmd/init/legacy-cli.go
+++ b/cmd/init/legacy-cli.go
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@ func loadCliProfiles() (profiles []prompt.Answer, err error) {
 		profiles = append(profiles, prompt.Answer{
 			Value:   v.Name(),
 			Details: fmt.Sprintf(`Connecting to "%s" workspace`, host),
-			Callback: func(ans prompt.Answer, prj *project.Project, _ prompt.Results) {
-				prj.Profile = ans.Value
+			Callback: func(ans prompt.Answer, config *project.Config, _ prompt.Results) {
+				config.Profile = ans.Value
 			},
 		})
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/prompt/prompt.go b/cmd/prompt/prompt.go
index 6ef7bb16..428fb9d2 100644
--- a/cmd/prompt/prompt.go
+++ b/cmd/prompt/prompt.go
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ func (q Choice) Ask(res Results) (string, Answer, error) {
 
 type Answers []Answer
 
-type AnswerCallback func(ans Answer, prj *project.Project, res Results)
+type AnswerCallback func(ans Answer, config *project.Config, res Results)
 
 type Answer struct {
 	Value    string
diff --git a/cmd/sync/sync.go b/cmd/sync/sync.go
index 8414ebf5..012ca48d 100644
--- a/cmd/sync/sync.go
+++ b/cmd/sync/sync.go
@@ -15,12 +15,14 @@ import (
 var syncCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Use:   "sync",
 	Short: "run syncs for the project",
+
+	PreRunE: project.Configure,
 	RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		ctx := cmd.Context()
-		wsc := project.Current.WorkspacesClient()
+		wsc := project.Get(ctx).WorkspacesClient()
 
 		if *remotePath == "" {
-			me, err := project.Current.Me()
+			me, err := project.Get(ctx).Me()
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
diff --git a/cmd/sync/watchdog.go b/cmd/sync/watchdog.go
index db57ec9b..2e6d7c3f 100644
--- a/cmd/sync/watchdog.go
+++ b/cmd/sync/watchdog.go
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ type watchdog struct {
 }
 
 func putFile(ctx context.Context, path string, content io.Reader) error {
-	wsc := project.Current.WorkspacesClient()
+	wsc := project.Get(ctx).WorkspacesClient()
 	// workspace mkdirs is idempotent
 	err := wsc.Workspace.MkdirsByPath(ctx, filepath.Dir(path))
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index 5d4b0d25..4b834a30 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ require (
 	github.com/mitchellh/go-homedir v1.1.0 // MIT
 	github.com/pkg/browser v0.0.0-20210911075715-681adbf594b8 // BSD-2-Clause
 	github.com/sabhiram/go-gitignore v0.0.0-20210923224102-525f6e181f06 // MIT
-	github.com/spf13/cobra v1.4.0 // Apache 2.0
+	github.com/spf13/cobra v1.5.0 // Apache 2.0
 	github.com/stretchr/testify v1.8.0 // MIT
 	github.com/whilp/git-urls v1.0.0 // MIT
 	golang.org/x/mod v0.6.0-dev.0.20220106191415-9b9b3d81d5e3 // BSD-3-Clause
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index 4e3dfec5..eb6b97cf 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ github.com/cncf/xds/go v0.0.0-20210805033703-aa0b78936158/go.mod h1:eXthEFrGJvWH
 github.com/cncf/xds/go v0.0.0-20210922020428-25de7278fc84/go.mod h1:eXthEFrGJvWHgFFCl3hGmgk+/aYT6PnTQLykKQRLhEs=
 github.com/cncf/xds/go v0.0.0-20211001041855-01bcc9b48dfe/go.mod h1:eXthEFrGJvWHgFFCl3hGmgk+/aYT6PnTQLykKQRLhEs=
 github.com/cncf/xds/go v0.0.0-20211011173535-cb28da3451f1/go.mod h1:eXthEFrGJvWHgFFCl3hGmgk+/aYT6PnTQLykKQRLhEs=
-github.com/cpuguy83/go-md2man/v2 v2.0.1/go.mod h1:tgQtvFlXSQOSOSIRvRPT7W67SCa46tRHOmNcaadrF8o=
+github.com/cpuguy83/go-md2man/v2 v2.0.2/go.mod h1:tgQtvFlXSQOSOSIRvRPT7W67SCa46tRHOmNcaadrF8o=
 github.com/creack/pty v1.1.9/go.mod h1:oKZEueFk5CKHvIhNR5MUki03XCEU+Q6VDXinZuGJ33E=
 github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.0/go.mod h1:J7Y8YcW2NihsgmVo/mv3lAwl/skON4iLHjSsI+c5H38=
 github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.1 h1:vj9j/u1bqnvCEfJOwUhtlOARqs3+rkHYY13jYWTU97c=
@@ -208,8 +208,8 @@ github.com/russross/blackfriday/v2 v2.1.0/go.mod h1:+Rmxgy9KzJVeS9/2gXHxylqXiyQD
 github.com/sabhiram/go-gitignore v0.0.0-20210923224102-525f6e181f06 h1:OkMGxebDjyw0ULyrTYWeN0UNCCkmCWfjPnIA2W6oviI=
 github.com/sabhiram/go-gitignore v0.0.0-20210923224102-525f6e181f06/go.mod h1:+ePHsJ1keEjQtpvf9HHw0f4ZeJ0TLRsxhunSI2hYJSs=
 github.com/spaolacci/murmur3 v0.0.0-20180118202830-f09979ecbc72/go.mod h1:JwIasOWyU6f++ZhiEuf87xNszmSA2myDM2Kzu9HwQUA=
-github.com/spf13/cobra v1.4.0 h1:y+wJpx64xcgO1V+RcnwW0LEHxTKRi2ZDPSBjWnrg88Q=
-github.com/spf13/cobra v1.4.0/go.mod h1:Wo4iy3BUC+X2Fybo0PDqwJIv3dNRiZLHQymsfxlB84g=
+github.com/spf13/cobra v1.5.0 h1:X+jTBEBqF0bHN+9cSMgmfuvv2VHJ9ezmFNf9Y/XstYU=
+github.com/spf13/cobra v1.5.0/go.mod h1:dWXEIy2H428czQCjInthrTRUg7yKbok+2Qi/yBIJoUM=
 github.com/spf13/pflag v1.0.5 h1:iy+VFUOCP1a+8yFto/drg2CJ5u0yRoB7fZw3DKv/JXA=
 github.com/spf13/pflag v1.0.5/go.mod h1:McXfInJRrz4CZXVZOBLb0bTZqETkiAhM9Iw0y3An2Bg=
 github.com/stretchr/objx v0.1.0/go.mod h1:HFkY916IF+rwdDfMAkV7OtwuqBVzrE8GR6GFx+wExME=
diff --git a/project/config.go b/project/config.go
index 1671f2de..344a2221 100644
--- a/project/config.go
+++ b/project/config.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"reflect"
 
 	"github.com/databricks/bricks/folders"
@@ -29,7 +30,7 @@ type Assertions struct {
 	ServicePrincipals []string `json:"service_principals,omitempty"`
 }
 
-type Project struct {
+type Config struct {
 	Name      string    `json:"name"`              // or do default from folder name?..
 	Profile   string    `json:"profile,omitempty"` // rename?
 	Isolation Isolation `json:"isolation,omitempty"`
@@ -51,20 +52,20 @@ type Project struct {
 	Assertions *Assertions `json:"assertions,omitempty"`
 }
 
-func (p Project) IsDevClusterDefined() bool {
-	return reflect.ValueOf(p.DevCluster).IsZero()
+func (c Config) IsDevClusterDefined() bool {
+	return reflect.ValueOf(c.DevCluster).IsZero()
 }
 
 // IsDevClusterJustReference denotes reference-only clusters.
 // This conflicts with Soft isolation. Happens for cost-restricted projects,
 // where there's only a single Shared Autoscaling cluster per workspace and
 // general users have no ability to create other iteractive clusters.
-func (p *Project) IsDevClusterJustReference() bool {
-	if p.DevCluster.ClusterName == "" {
+func (c *Config) IsDevClusterJustReference() bool {
+	if c.DevCluster.ClusterName == "" {
 		return false
 	}
-	return reflect.DeepEqual(p.DevCluster, &clusters.ClusterInfo{
-		ClusterName: p.DevCluster.ClusterName,
+	return reflect.DeepEqual(c.DevCluster, &clusters.ClusterInfo{
+		ClusterName: c.DevCluster.ClusterName,
 	})
 }
 
@@ -75,12 +76,8 @@ func IsDatabricksProject() bool {
 	return err == nil
 }
 
-func loadProjectConf() (prj Project, err error) {
-	root, err := findProjectRoot()
-	if err != nil {
-		return
-	}
-	config, err := os.Open(fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s", root, ConfigFile))
+func loadProjectConf(root string) (c Config, err error) {
+	config, err := os.Open(filepath.Join(root, ConfigFile))
 	if err != nil {
 		return
 	}
@@ -88,20 +85,20 @@ func loadProjectConf() (prj Project, err error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return
 	}
-	err = yaml.Unmarshal(raw, &prj)
+	err = yaml.Unmarshal(raw, &c)
 	if err != nil {
 		return
 	}
-	return validateAndApplyProjectDefaults(prj)
+	return validateAndApplyProjectDefaults(c)
 }
 
-func validateAndApplyProjectDefaults(prj Project) (Project, error) {
+func validateAndApplyProjectDefaults(c Config) (Config, error) {
 	// defaultCluster := clusters.ClusterInfo{
 	// 	NodeTypeID: "smallest",
 	// 	SparkVersion: "latest",
 	// 	AutoterminationMinutes: 30,
 	// }
-	return prj, nil
+	return c, nil
 }
 
 func findProjectRoot() (string, error) {
diff --git a/project/config_test.go b/project/config_test.go
index 36fbdf3d..83b347da 100644
--- a/project/config_test.go
+++ b/project/config_test.go
@@ -1,39 +1,13 @@
 package project
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
-	"os"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 )
 
-func TestFindProjectRoot(t *testing.T) {
-	wd, _ := os.Getwd()
-	defer os.Chdir(wd)
-	err := os.Chdir("testdata/a/b/c")
-	assert.NoError(t, err)
-	root, err := findProjectRoot()
-	assert.NoError(t, err)
-
-	assert.Equal(t, fmt.Sprintf("%s/testdata", wd), root)
-}
-
-func TestFindProjectRootInRoot(t *testing.T) {
-	wd, _ := os.Getwd()
-	defer os.Chdir(wd)
-	err := os.Chdir("/tmp")
-	assert.NoError(t, err)
-	_, err = findProjectRoot()
-	assert.EqualError(t, err, "cannot find databricks.yml anywhere")
-}
-
 func TestLoadProjectConf(t *testing.T) {
-	wd, _ := os.Getwd()
-	defer os.Chdir(wd)
-	os.Chdir("testdata/a/b/c")
-
-	prj, err := loadProjectConf()
+	prj, err := loadProjectConf("./testdata")
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, "dev", prj.Name)
 	assert.True(t, prj.IsDevClusterJustReference())
diff --git a/project/project.go b/project/project.go
index f1e94f56..eb3810bf 100644
--- a/project/project.go
+++ b/project/project.go
@@ -10,73 +10,96 @@ import (
 	"github.com/databricks/databricks-sdk-go/service/commands"
 	"github.com/databricks/databricks-sdk-go/service/scim"
 	"github.com/databricks/databricks-sdk-go/workspaces"
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 )
 
-// Current CLI application state - fixure out
-var Current inner
+type project struct {
+	mu sync.Mutex
 
-type inner struct {
-	mu   sync.Mutex
-	once sync.Once
-
-	project *Project
-	wsc     *workspaces.WorkspacesClient
-	me      *scim.User
+	config *Config
+	wsc    *workspaces.WorkspacesClient
+	me     *scim.User
 }
 
-func (i *inner) init() {
-	i.mu.Lock()
-	defer i.mu.Unlock()
-	i.once.Do(func() {
-		prj, err := loadProjectConf()
-		i.wsc = workspaces.New(&databricks.Config{Profile: prj.Profile})
-		if err != nil {
-			panic(err)
-		}
-		if err != nil {
-			panic(err)
-		}
-		i.project = &prj
-	})
-}
-
-func (i *inner) Project() *Project {
-	i.init()
-	return i.project
-}
-
-// Make sure to initialize the workspaces client on project init
-func (i *inner) WorkspacesClient() *workspaces.WorkspacesClient {
-	i.init()
-	return i.wsc
-}
-
-func (i *inner) Me() (*scim.User, error) {
-	i.mu.Lock()
-	defer i.mu.Unlock()
-	if i.me != nil {
-		return i.me, nil
+// Configure is used as a PreRunE function for all commands that
+// require a project to be configured. If a project could successfully
+// be found and loaded, it is set on the command's context object.
+func Configure(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+	root, err := getRoot()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
 	}
-	me, err := i.wsc.CurrentUser.Me(context.Background())
+
+	ctx, err := Initialize(cmd.Context(), root)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	cmd.SetContext(ctx)
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Placeholder to use as unique key in context.Context.
+var projectKey int
+
+// Initialize loads a project configuration given a root.
+// It stores the project on a new context.
+// The project is available through the `Get()` function.
+func Initialize(ctx context.Context, root string) (context.Context, error) {
+	config, err := loadProjectConf(root)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	i.me = me
+
+	p := project{
+		config: &config,
+	}
+
+	p.wsc = workspaces.New(&databricks.Config{Profile: config.Profile})
+	return context.WithValue(ctx, &projectKey, &p), nil
+}
+
+// Get returns the project as configured on the context.
+// It panics if it isn't configured.
+func Get(ctx context.Context) *project {
+	project, ok := ctx.Value(&projectKey).(*project)
+	if !ok {
+		panic(`context not configured with project`)
+	}
+	return project
+}
+
+// Make sure to initialize the workspaces client on project init
+func (p *project) WorkspacesClient() *workspaces.WorkspacesClient {
+	return p.wsc
+}
+
+func (p *project) Me() (*scim.User, error) {
+	p.mu.Lock()
+	defer p.mu.Unlock()
+	if p.me != nil {
+		return p.me, nil
+	}
+	me, err := p.wsc.CurrentUser.Me(context.Background())
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	p.me = me
 	return me, nil
 }
 
-func (i *inner) DeploymentIsolationPrefix() string {
-	if i.project.Isolation == None {
-		return i.project.Name
+func (p *project) DeploymentIsolationPrefix() string {
+	if p.config.Isolation == None {
+		return p.config.Name
 	}
-	if i.project.Isolation == Soft {
-		me, err := i.Me()
+	if p.config.Isolation == Soft {
+		me, err := p.Me()
 		if err != nil {
 			panic(err)
 		}
-		return fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s", i.project.Name, me.UserName)
+		return fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s", p.config.Name, me.UserName)
 	}
-	panic(fmt.Errorf("unknow project isolation: %s", i.project.Isolation))
+	panic(fmt.Errorf("unknow project isolation: %s", p.config.Isolation))
 }
 
 func getClusterIdFromClusterName(ctx context.Context,
@@ -101,24 +124,24 @@ func getClusterIdFromClusterName(ctx context.Context,
 // Old version of getting development cluster details with isolation implemented.
 // Kept just for reference. Remove once isolation is implemented properly
 /*
-func (i *inner) DevelopmentCluster(ctx context.Context) (cluster clusters.ClusterInfo, err error) {
-	api := clusters.NewClustersAPI(ctx, i.Client()) // TODO: rewrite with normal SDK
-	if i.project.DevCluster == nil {
-		i.project.DevCluster = &clusters.Cluster{}
+func (p *project) DevelopmentCluster(ctx context.Context) (cluster clusters.ClusterInfo, err error) {
+	api := clusters.NewClustersAPI(ctx, p.Client()) // TODO: rewrite with normal SDK
+	if p.project.DevCluster == nil {
+		p.project.DevCluster = &clusters.Cluster{}
 	}
-	dc := i.project.DevCluster
-	if i.project.Isolation == Soft {
-		if i.project.IsDevClusterJustReference() {
+	dc := p.project.DevCluster
+	if p.project.Isolation == Soft {
+		if p.project.IsDevClusterJustReference() {
 			err = fmt.Errorf("projects with soft isolation cannot have named clusters")
 			return
 		}
-		dc.ClusterName = fmt.Sprintf("dev/%s", i.DeploymentIsolationPrefix())
+		dc.ClusterName = fmt.Sprintf("dev/%s", p.DeploymentIsolationPrefix())
 	}
 	if dc.ClusterName == "" {
 		err = fmt.Errorf("please either pick `isolation: soft` or specify a shared cluster name")
 		return
 	}
-	return api.GetOrCreateRunningCluster(dc.ClusterName, *dc)
+	return app.GetOrCreateRunningCluster(dc.ClusterName, *dc)
 }
 
 func runCommandOnDev(ctx context.Context, language, command string) common.CommandResults {
@@ -138,17 +161,16 @@ func RunPythonOnDev(ctx context.Context, command string) common.CommandResults {
 }
 */
 
-// TODO: Add safe access to i.project and i.project.DevCluster that throws errors if
+// TODO: Add safe access to p.project and p.project.DevCluster that throws errors if
 // the fields are not defined properly
-func (i *inner) GetDevelopmentClusterId(ctx context.Context) (clusterId string, err error) {
-	i.init()
-	clusterId = i.project.DevCluster.ClusterId
-	clusterName := i.project.DevCluster.ClusterName
+func (p *project) GetDevelopmentClusterId(ctx context.Context) (clusterId string, err error) {
+	clusterId = p.config.DevCluster.ClusterId
+	clusterName := p.config.DevCluster.ClusterName
 	if clusterId != "" {
 		return
 	} else if clusterName != "" {
 		// Add workspaces client on init
-		return getClusterIdFromClusterName(ctx, i.wsc, clusterName)
+		return getClusterIdFromClusterName(ctx, p.wsc, clusterName)
 	} else {
 		// TODO: Add the project config file location used to error message
 		err = fmt.Errorf("please define either development cluster's cluster_id or cluster_name in your project config")
@@ -157,14 +179,14 @@ func (i *inner) GetDevelopmentClusterId(ctx context.Context) (clusterId string,
 }
 
 func runCommandOnDev(ctx context.Context, language, command string) commands.CommandResults {
-	clusterId, err := Current.GetDevelopmentClusterId(ctx)
+	clusterId, err := Get(ctx).GetDevelopmentClusterId(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
 		return commands.CommandResults{
 			ResultType: "error",
 			Summary:    err.Error(),
 		}
 	}
-	return Current.wsc.Commands.Execute(ctx, clusterId, language, command)
+	return Get(ctx).wsc.Commands.Execute(ctx, clusterId, language, command)
 }
 
 func RunPythonOnDev(ctx context.Context, command string) commands.CommandResults {
diff --git a/project/project_test.go b/project/project_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8d01fe3d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/project/project_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+package project
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+func TestProjectInitialize(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx, err := Initialize(context.Background(), "./testdata")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, Get(ctx).config.Name, "dev")
+}
diff --git a/project/root.go b/project/root.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c1e24776
--- /dev/null
+++ b/project/root.go
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+package project
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+
+	"github.com/databricks/bricks/folders"
+)
+
+const bricksRoot = "BRICKS_ROOT"
+
+// getRoot returns the project root.
+// If the `BRICKS_ROOT` environment variable is set, we assume its value
+// to be a valid project root. Otherwise we try to find it by traversing
+// the path and looking for a project configuration file.
+func getRoot() (string, error) {
+	path, ok := os.LookupEnv(bricksRoot)
+	if ok {
+		stat, err := os.Stat(path)
+		if err == nil && !stat.IsDir() {
+			err = fmt.Errorf("not a directory")
+		}
+		if err != nil {
+			return "", fmt.Errorf(`invalid project root %s="%s": %w`, bricksRoot, path, err)
+		}
+	} else {
+		wd, err := os.Getwd()
+		if err != nil {
+			return "", err
+		}
+		path, err = folders.FindDirWithLeaf(wd, ConfigFile)
+		if err != nil {
+			return "", fmt.Errorf(`unable to locate project root`)
+		}
+	}
+
+	return path, nil
+}
diff --git a/project/root_test.go b/project/root_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9fc87ea9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/project/root_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+package project
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+// Changes into specified directory for the duration of the test.
+// Returns the current working directory.
+func chdir(t *testing.T, dir string) string {
+	wd, err := os.Getwd()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	abs, err := filepath.Abs(dir)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	err = os.Chdir(abs)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	t.Cleanup(func() {
+		err := os.Chdir(wd)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+	})
+
+	return wd
+}
+
+func TestRootFromEnv(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	t.Setenv(bricksRoot, dir)
+
+	// It should pull the root from the environment variable.
+	root, err := getRoot()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, root, dir)
+}
+
+func TestRootFromEnvDoesntExist(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	t.Setenv(bricksRoot, filepath.Join(dir, "doesntexist"))
+
+	// It should pull the root from the environment variable.
+	_, err := getRoot()
+	require.Errorf(t, err, "invalid project root")
+}
+
+func TestRootFromEnvIsFile(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	f, err := os.Create(filepath.Join(dir, "invalid"))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	f.Close()
+	t.Setenv(bricksRoot, f.Name())
+
+	// It should pull the root from the environment variable.
+	_, err = getRoot()
+	require.Errorf(t, err, "invalid project root")
+}
+
+func TestRootIfEnvIsEmpty(t *testing.T) {
+	dir := ""
+	t.Setenv(bricksRoot, dir)
+
+	// It should pull the root from the environment variable.
+	_, err := getRoot()
+	require.Errorf(t, err, "invalid project root")
+}
+
+func TestRootLookup(t *testing.T) {
+	// Have to set then unset to allow the testing package to revert it to its original value.
+	t.Setenv(bricksRoot, "")
+	os.Unsetenv(bricksRoot)
+
+	// It should find the project root from $PWD.
+	wd := chdir(t, "./testdata/a/b/c")
+	root, err := getRoot()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, root, filepath.Join(wd, "testdata"))
+}
+
+func TestRootLookupError(t *testing.T) {
+	// Have to set then unset to allow the testing package to revert it to its original value.
+	t.Setenv(bricksRoot, "")
+	os.Unsetenv(bricksRoot)
+
+	// It can't find a project root from a temporary directory.
+	_ = chdir(t, t.TempDir())
+	_, err := getRoot()
+	require.ErrorContains(t, err, "unable to locate project root")
+}
diff --git a/python/wheel.go b/python/wheel.go
index 68026b06..61e2a792 100644
--- a/python/wheel.go
+++ b/python/wheel.go
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ func UploadWheelToDBFSWithPEP503(ctx context.Context, dir string) (string, error
 	// extra index URLs. See more pointers at https://stackoverflow.com/q/30889494/277035
 	dbfsLoc := fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s/%s", DBFSWheelLocation, dist.NormalizedName(), path.Base(wheel))
 
-	wsc := project.Current.WorkspacesClient()
+	wsc := project.Get(ctx).WorkspacesClient()
 	wf, err := os.Open(wheel)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", err