diff --git a/src/cargo/core/workspace.rs b/src/cargo/core/workspace.rs
index 5931a9a5c7f..bf2ca3d330c 100644
--- a/src/cargo/core/workspace.rs
+++ b/src/cargo/core/workspace.rs
@@ -145,7 +145,13 @@ impl<'cfg> Workspace<'cfg> {
     pub fn new(manifest_path: &Path, config: &'cfg Config) -> CargoResult<Workspace<'cfg>> {
         let mut ws = Workspace::new_default(manifest_path.to_path_buf(), config);
         ws.target_dir = config.target_dir()?;
-        ws.root_manifest = ws.find_root(manifest_path)?;
+
+        if manifest_path.is_relative() {
+            ws.root_manifest = Some(std::env::current_dir()?);
+        } else {
+            ws.root_manifest = ws.find_root(manifest_path)?;
+        }
+
         ws.find_members()?;
         ws.resolve_behavior = match ws.root_maybe() {
             MaybePackage::Package(p) => p.manifest().resolve_behavior(),