diff --git a/crates/project_model/src/project_json.rs b/crates/project_model/src/project_json.rs
index 545f254aae..1ab1221cba 100644
--- a/crates/project_model/src/project_json.rs
+++ b/crates/project_model/src/project_json.rs
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ use crate::cfg_flag::CfgFlag;
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, Eq, PartialEq)]
 pub struct ProjectJson {
     pub(crate) sysroot_src: Option<AbsPathBuf>,
-    project_root: Option<AbsPathBuf>,
+    project_root: AbsPathBuf,
     crates: Vec<Crate>,
 }
 
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ impl ProjectJson {
     pub fn new(base: &AbsPath, data: ProjectJsonData) -> ProjectJson {
         ProjectJson {
             sysroot_src: data.sysroot_src.map(|it| base.join(it)),
-            project_root: base.parent().map(AbsPath::to_path_buf),
+            project_root: base.to_path_buf(),
             crates: data
                 .crates
                 .into_iter()
@@ -91,11 +91,8 @@ impl ProjectJson {
     pub fn crates(&self) -> impl Iterator<Item = (CrateId, &Crate)> + '_ {
         self.crates.iter().enumerate().map(|(idx, krate)| (CrateId(idx as u32), krate))
     }
-    pub fn path(&self) -> Option<&AbsPath> {
-        match &self.project_root {
-            Some(p) => Some(p.as_path()),
-            None => None,
-        }
+    pub fn path(&self) -> &AbsPath {
+        &self.project_root
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/rust-analyzer/src/reload.rs b/crates/rust-analyzer/src/reload.rs
index b819618cb4..a052f36a71 100644
--- a/crates/rust-analyzer/src/reload.rs
+++ b/crates/rust-analyzer/src/reload.rs
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ impl GlobalState {
                     // Enable flychecks for json projects if a custom flycheck command was supplied
                     // in the workspace configuration.
                     match config {
-                        FlycheckConfig::CustomCommand { .. } => project.path(),
+                        FlycheckConfig::CustomCommand { .. } => Some(project.path()),
                         _ => None,
                     }
                 }