diff --git a/tooling/nargo_cli/src/cli/init_cmd.rs b/tooling/nargo_cli/src/cli/init_cmd.rs
index 2091ac89f9c..9a16f8a7a9b 100644
--- a/tooling/nargo_cli/src/cli/init_cmd.rs
+++ b/tooling/nargo_cli/src/cli/init_cmd.rs
@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@ use std::path::PathBuf;
 /// Create a Noir project in the current directory.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Args)]
 pub(crate) struct InitCommand {
+    /// The path to save the new project
+    path: Option<PathBuf>,
+
     /// Name of the package [default: current directory name]
     #[clap(long)]
     name: Option<CrateName>,
@@ -68,10 +71,20 @@ pub(crate) fn run(
     args: InitCommand,
     config: NargoConfig,
 ) -> Result<(), CliError> {
+    let package_dir = if let Some(path) = args.path {
+        config.program_dir.join(&path)
+    } else {
+        config.program_dir
+    };
+
+    if package_dir.exists() {
+        return Err(CliError::DestinationAlreadyExists(package_dir));
+    }
+
     let package_name = match args.name {
         Some(name) => name,
         None => {
-            let name = config.program_dir.file_name().unwrap().to_str().unwrap();
+            let name = package_dir.file_name().unwrap().to_str().unwrap();
             name.parse().map_err(|_| CliError::InvalidPackageName(name.into()))?
         }
     };
@@ -83,7 +96,7 @@ pub(crate) fn run(
     } else {
         PackageType::Binary
     };
-    initialize_project(config.program_dir, package_name, package_type);
+    initialize_project(package_dir, package_name, package_type);
     Ok(())
 }