diff --git a/packages/cli/CHANGELOG.md b/packages/cli/CHANGELOG.md
index fa04d2bb0..435f622d6 100644
--- a/packages/cli/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/packages/cli/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 # @openfn/cli
 
+## 1.8.8
+
+### Patch Changes
+
+- 1f13d8f: Resolved an issue where the `-p` (project path) flag was ignored in the `deploy` command, causing the CLI to default to `project.yaml` instead of the specified file.
+
 ## 1.8.7
 
 ### Patch Changes
diff --git a/packages/cli/package.json b/packages/cli/package.json
index be146a38b..e8bb0051a 100644
--- a/packages/cli/package.json
+++ b/packages/cli/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@openfn/cli",
-  "version": "1.8.7",
+  "version": "1.8.8",
   "description": "CLI devtools for the openfn toolchain.",
   "engines": {
     "node": ">=18",
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/deploy/handler.ts b/packages/cli/src/deploy/handler.ts
index 4af1e5502..25bc6c773 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/deploy/handler.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/deploy/handler.ts
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ function mergeOverrides(
     apiKey: pickFirst(process.env['OPENFN_API_KEY'], config.apiKey),
     endpoint: pickFirst(process.env['OPENFN_ENDPOINT'], config.endpoint),
     statePath: pickFirst(options.statePath, config.statePath),
+    specPath: pickFirst(options.projectPath, config.specPath),
     configPath: options.configPath,
     requireConfirmation: pickFirst(options.confirm, config.requireConfirmation),
   };
diff --git a/packages/cli/test/deploy/options.test.ts b/packages/cli/test/deploy/options.test.ts
index abb2ee4a2..46be79900 100644
--- a/packages/cli/test/deploy/options.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/test/deploy/options.test.ts
@@ -36,3 +36,13 @@ test('pass a config path (shortform)', (t) => {
   const options = parse('deploy -c other_config.json');
   t.deepEqual(options.configPath, 'other_config.json');
 });
+
+test('pass a spec path (longform)', (t) => {
+  const options = parse('deploy --project-path test-project.yaml');
+  t.deepEqual(options.projectPath, 'test-project.yaml');
+});
+
+test('pass a spec path (shortform)', (t) => {
+  const options = parse('deploy -p test-project.yaml');
+  t.deepEqual(options.projectPath, 'test-project.yaml');
+});