diff --git a/zkstack_cli/crates/zkstack/src/commands/chain/args/create.rs b/zkstack_cli/crates/zkstack/src/commands/chain/args/create.rs
index c6f2f8b28362..27fd3ff8cf56 100644
--- a/zkstack_cli/crates/zkstack/src/commands/chain/args/create.rs
+++ b/zkstack_cli/crates/zkstack/src/commands/chain/args/create.rs
@@ -94,8 +94,6 @@ impl ChainCreateArgs {
             .unwrap_or_else(|| Prompt::new(MSG_CHAIN_NAME_PROMPT).ask());
         chain_name = slugify!(&chain_name, separator = "_");
 
-        let chain_path = chains_path.unwrap_or_default().join(&chain_name);
-
         let chain_id = self
             .chain_id
             .map(|v| match v {
@@ -261,7 +259,7 @@ impl ChainCreateArgs {
             legacy_bridge: self.legacy_bridge,
             evm_emulator,
             link_to_code,
-            chain_path,
+            chains_path,
             era_chain_id,
             internal_id,
             l1_network,
@@ -282,7 +280,7 @@ pub struct ChainCreateArgsFinal {
     pub legacy_bridge: bool,
     pub evm_emulator: bool,
     pub link_to_code: String,
-    pub chain_path: PathBuf,
+    pub chains_path: Option<PathBuf>,
     pub era_chain_id: L2ChainId,
     pub internal_id: u32,
     pub l1_network: L1Network,
diff --git a/zkstack_cli/crates/zkstack/src/commands/chain/create.rs b/zkstack_cli/crates/zkstack/src/commands/chain/create.rs
index 4ef5f8573ed1..a27d1972b92c 100644
--- a/zkstack_cli/crates/zkstack/src/commands/chain/create.rs
+++ b/zkstack_cli/crates/zkstack/src/commands/chain/create.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use std::cell::OnceCell;
+use std::{cell::OnceCell, path::PathBuf};
 
 use anyhow::Context;
 use common::{logger, spinner::Spinner};
@@ -95,7 +95,11 @@ pub(crate) fn create_chain_inner(args: ChainCreateArgsFinal, shell: &Shell) -> a
         logger::warn("WARNING!!! You are creating a chain with legacy bridge, use it only for testing compatibility")
     }
     let default_chain_name = args.chain_name.clone();
-    let chain_path = args.chain_path;
+    let chain_path = args
+        .chains_path
+        .clone()
+        .unwrap_or_default()
+        .join(&default_chain_name);
     let chain_configs_path = create_local_configs_dir(shell, &chain_path)?;
     let (chain_id, legacy_bridge) = if args.legacy_bridge {
         // Legacy bridge is distinguished by using the same chain id as ecosystem
@@ -112,8 +116,17 @@ pub(crate) fn create_chain_inner(args: ChainCreateArgsFinal, shell: &Shell) -> a
     if args.evm_emulator && !has_evm_emulation_support {
         anyhow::bail!(MSG_EVM_EMULATOR_HASH_MISSING_ERR);
     }
-    let rocks_db_path = chain_path.join(LOCAL_DB_PATH);
-    let artifacts = chain_path.join(LOCAL_ARTIFACTS_PATH);
+    let (rocks_db_path, artifacts) = if args.chains_path.is_none() {
+        (
+            PathBuf::from(LOCAL_DB_PATH),
+            PathBuf::from(LOCAL_ARTIFACTS_PATH),
+        )
+    } else {
+        (
+            chain_path.join(LOCAL_DB_PATH),
+            chain_path.join(LOCAL_ARTIFACTS_PATH),
+        )
+    };
 
     let chain_config = ChainConfig {
         id: args.internal_id,