diff --git a/packages/typegpu-cli/src/utils/inputs.ts b/packages/typegpu-cli/src/utils/inputs.ts
index 722779e347..4c6f25fab3 100644
--- a/packages/typegpu-cli/src/utils/inputs.ts
+++ b/packages/typegpu-cli/src/utils/inputs.ts
@@ -4,20 +4,24 @@ import type { PackageJson } from './types.ts';
 import { hasDependency, typegpuPkgs, VERSION } from './pkg.ts';
 
 function isValidProjectDirectory(projectDir: string) {
-  return !/[<>:"\\|?*\s]|\/+$/.test(projectDir.trim());
+  const trimmedDir = projectDir.trim();
+  return (
+    projectDir.length === 0 || (trimmedDir.length > 0 && !/[<>:"\\|?*\s]|\/+$/.test(trimmedDir))
+  );
 }
 
 export function isValidPackageName(packageName: string) {
-  return /^(?:@[a-z\d][a-z\d\-._]*\/)?[a-z\d][a-z\d\-._]*$/.test(packageName.trim());
+  const trimmedName = packageName.trim();
+  return /^(?:@[a-z\d][a-z\d\-._]*\/)?[a-z\d][a-z\d\-._]*$/.test(trimmedName);
 }
 
 export async function getProjectName(initialValue: string) {
   let projectName = await p.text({
     message: 'Project name:',
     placeholder: initialValue,
-    initialValue,
+    defaultValue: initialValue,
     validate: (value) => {
-      return value && !isValidProjectDirectory(value) ? 'Invalid project name.' : undefined;
+      return !isValidProjectDirectory(value) ? 'Invalid project name.' : undefined;
     },
   });
 
@@ -25,16 +29,14 @@ export async function getProjectName(initialValue: string) {
     cancelExit();
   }
 
-  projectName ??= '.';
   return projectName.trim();
 }
 
 export async function getPackageName() {
   const packageName = await p.text({
     message: 'Package name:',
-    initialValue: '',
     validate: (value) => {
-      return !value || !isValidPackageName(value) ? 'Invalid package name.' : undefined;
+      return !isValidPackageName(value) ? 'Invalid package name.' : undefined;
     },
   });