diff --git a/src/commands/package/convert.ts b/src/commands/package/convert.ts
index 05093b8f..9fb92202 100644
--- a/src/commands/package/convert.ts
+++ b/src/commands/package/convert.ts
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
  */
 
 import { Flags, loglevel, orgApiVersionFlagWithDeprecations, SfCommand } from '@salesforce/sf-plugins-core';
-import { Lifecycle, Messages, SfError, SfProject } from '@salesforce/core';
+import { Lifecycle, Messages, SfError } from '@salesforce/core';
 import {
   INSTALL_URL_BASE,
   Package,
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ export class PackageConvert extends SfCommand<PackageVersionCreateRequestResult>
   public static readonly examples = messages.getMessages('examples');
   public static readonly deprecateAliases = true;
   public static readonly aliases = ['force:package:convert'];
+  public static readonly requiresProject = true;
   public static readonly flags = {
     loglevel,
     'target-dev-hub': requiredHubFlag,
@@ -128,13 +129,7 @@ export class PackageConvert extends SfCommand<PackageVersionCreateRequestResult>
     } else {
       this.spinner.start('Converting Package', 'Initializing');
     }
-    // initialize the project instance if in a project
-    let project: SfProject | undefined;
-    try {
-      project = await SfProject.resolve();
-    } catch (err) {
-      // ignore project is optional
-    }
+
     const result = await Package.convert(
       flags.package,
       flags['target-dev-hub'].getConnection(flags['api-version']),
@@ -148,7 +143,7 @@ export class PackageConvert extends SfCommand<PackageVersionCreateRequestResult>
         patchversion: flags['patch-version'] as string,
         codecoverage: flags['code-coverage'] as boolean,
       },
-      project
+      this.project
     );
 
     switch (result.Status) {
diff --git a/test/commands/package/packageConvert.test.ts b/test/commands/package/packageConvert.test.ts
index dd5a1cc1..3adf8701 100644
--- a/test/commands/package/packageConvert.test.ts
+++ b/test/commands/package/packageConvert.test.ts
@@ -52,6 +52,10 @@ describe('package:convert', () => {
     $$.restore();
   });
 
+  it('should require an sfdx project', () => {
+    expect(PackageConvert.requiresProject).to.be.true;
+  });
+
   it('returns error for missing installationkey or installationkeybypass flag', async () => {
     const expectedErrorMsg =
       'Exactly one of the following must be provided: --installation-key, --installation-key-bypass';