diff --git a/src/serena/cli.py b/src/serena/cli.py
index 2a8c4358..580815fe 100644
--- a/src/serena/cli.py
+++ b/src/serena/cli.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ from tqdm import tqdm
 
 from serena.agent import SerenaAgent
 from serena.config.context_mode import SerenaAgentContext, SerenaAgentMode
-from serena.config.serena_config import LanguageBackend, ProjectConfig, SerenaConfig, SerenaPaths
+from serena.config.serena_config import LanguageBackend, ProjectConfig, SerenaConfig, SerenaPaths, RegisteredProject
 from serena.constants import (
     DEFAULT_CONTEXT,
     DEFAULT_MODES,
@@ -521,7 +521,8 @@ class ProjectCommands(AutoRegisteringGroup):
         :raises FileExistsError: If project.yml already exists
         :raises ValueError: If an unsupported language is specified
         """
-        yml_path = os.path.join(project_path, ProjectConfig.rel_path_to_project_yml())
+        project_root = Path(project_path).resolve()
+        yml_path = ProjectConfig.path_to_project_yml(project_root)
         if os.path.exists(yml_path):
             raise FileExistsError(f"Project file {yml_path} already exists.")
 
@@ -540,6 +541,15 @@ class ProjectCommands(AutoRegisteringGroup):
         yml_path = ProjectConfig.path_to_project_yml(project_path)
         languages_str = ", ".join([lang.value for lang in generated_conf.languages]) if generated_conf.languages else "N/A"
         click.echo(f"Generated project with languages {{{languages_str}}} at {yml_path}.")
+
+        # add to SerenaConfig's list of registered projects
+        serena_config = SerenaConfig.from_config_file()
+        if serena_config.get_registered_project(str(project_root)) is None:
+            registered_project = RegisteredProject(str(project_root), generated_conf)
+            serena_config.projects.append(registered_project)
+            click.echo(f"Saving project registration to {serena_config}")
+            serena_config.save()
+
         return generated_conf
 
     @staticmethod
diff --git a/src/serena/config/serena_config.py b/src/serena/config/serena_config.py
index 7bfbb3e8..9523cf05 100644
--- a/src/serena/config/serena_config.py
+++ b/src/serena/config/serena_config.py
@@ -613,14 +613,14 @@ class SerenaConfig(ToolInclusionDefinition, ToStringMixin):
     def project_names(self) -> list[str]:
         return sorted(project.project_config.project_name for project in self.projects)
 
-    def get_project(self, project_root_or_name: str) -> Optional["Project"]:
+    def get_registered_project(self, project_root_or_name: str) -> Optional[RegisteredProject]:
         # look for project by name
         project_candidates = []
         for project in self.projects:
             if project.project_config.project_name == project_root_or_name:
                 project_candidates.append(project)
         if len(project_candidates) == 1:
-            return project_candidates[0].get_project_instance()
+            return project_candidates[0]
         elif len(project_candidates) > 1:
             raise ValueError(
                 f"Multiple projects found with name '{project_root_or_name}'. Please activate it by location instead. "
@@ -630,13 +630,21 @@ class SerenaConfig(ToolInclusionDefinition, ToStringMixin):
         if os.path.isdir(project_root_or_name):
             for project in self.projects:
                 if project.matches_root_path(project_root_or_name):
-                    return project.get_project_instance()
+                    return project
         return None
 
+    def get_project(self, project_root_or_name: str) -> Optional["Project"]:
+        registered_project = self.get_registered_project(project_root_or_name)
+        if registered_project is None:
+            return None
+        else:
+            return registered_project.get_project_instance()
+
     def add_project_from_path(self, project_root: Path | str) -> "Project":
         """
-        Add a project to the Serena configuration from a given path. Will raise a FileExistsError if a
-        project already exists at the path.
+        Add a new project to the Serena configuration from a given path, auto-generating the project
+        with defaults if it does not exist.
+        Will raise a FileExistsError if a project already exists at the path.
 
         :param project_root: the path to the project to add
         :return: the project that was added