diff --git a/.changeset/wise-trains-study.md b/.changeset/wise-trains-study.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4dc350af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/wise-trains-study.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'sv': patch
+---
+
+fix: prompt to install dependencies in `sv create`
diff --git a/packages/cli/commands/add/index.ts b/packages/cli/commands/add/index.ts
index 3c0f27a4..dc6ed673 100644
--- a/packages/cli/commands/add/index.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/commands/add/index.ts
@@ -452,7 +452,7 @@ export async function runAddCommand(options: Options, adders: string[]): Promise
 	}
 
 	// install dependencies
-	let depsStatus: 'installed' | 'skipped' | undefined;
+	let depsStatus: 'installed' | 'skipped' = 'skipped';
 	if (options.install && selectedAdders.length > 0) {
 		depsStatus = await common.suggestInstallingDependencies(options.cwd);
 	}
diff --git a/packages/cli/commands/create.ts b/packages/cli/commands/create.ts
index ff99c253..30f2d6c7 100644
--- a/packages/cli/commands/create.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/commands/create.ts
@@ -138,10 +138,12 @@ async function createProject(cwd: string, options: Options) {
 
 	if (options.adders) {
 		await runAddCommand(
-			{ cwd: projectPath, install: options.install, preconditions: true, community: [] },
+			{ cwd: projectPath, install: false, preconditions: true, community: [] },
 			[]
 		);
-	} else if (options.install) {
+	}
+	// show install prompt even if no adders selected
+	if (options.install) {
 		// `runAddCommand` includes the installing dependencies prompt. if it's skipped,
 		// then we'll prompt to install dependencies here
 		await common.suggestInstallingDependencies(projectPath);