diff --git a/features/project_commands_coverage.feature b/features/project_commands_coverage.feature
index ba03a419..c4e8c2bb 100644
--- a/features/project_commands_coverage.feature
+++ b/features/project_commands_coverage.feature
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ Feature: Project Commands Coverage
 
   @phase1
   Scenario: Test project list command with no projects
+    Given I have a temporary working directory
     When I run project list command
     Then the project list output should contain "No projects found"
 
diff --git a/features/steps/project_commands_coverage_steps.py b/features/steps/project_commands_coverage_steps.py
index cf4ce6da..7596ecae 100644
--- a/features/steps/project_commands_coverage_steps.py
+++ b/features/steps/project_commands_coverage_steps.py
@@ -274,7 +274,33 @@ def step_execute_project_status_error(context):
 
 @when("I run project list command")
 def step_run_project_list(context):
-    """Run project list command."""
+    """Run project list command.
+
+    Ensures the default database path is writable by creating the
+    ``.cleveragents`` directory and bootstrapping the schema so the
+    ``list`` sub-command can query the ``ns_projects`` table even
+    when no projects exist.
+    """
+    import os
+
+    from sqlalchemy import create_engine
+
+    from cleveragents.infrastructure.database.models import Base
+
+    # Ensure the fallback database directory exists inside the temp CWD
+    db_dir = Path.cwd() / ".cleveragents"
+    db_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    db_path = db_dir / "db.sqlite"
+
+    # Point the container at this database so it doesn't fail on open
+    db_url = f"sqlite:///{db_path.absolute()}"
+    os.environ["CLEVERAGENTS_DATABASE_URL"] = db_url
+
+    # Bootstrap the schema so the table exists for the query
+    engine = create_engine(db_url, echo=False)
+    Base.metadata.create_all(engine)
+    engine.dispose()
+
     runner = CliRunner()
     result = runner.invoke(project.app, ["list"])
     context.result = result