diff --git a/packages/cli/src/index.ts b/packages/cli/src/index.ts
index 489287c3f2..f5056f8ba3 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/index.ts
@@ -24,8 +24,8 @@ import { discoverCliModules } from './wiring/discoverCliModules';
   const discoveredModules = discoverCliModules();
 
   if (discoveredModules.length > 0) {
-    for (const moduleName of discoveredModules) {
-      initializer.add(import(moduleName));
+    for (const resolvedPath of discoveredModules) {
+      initializer.add(import(resolvedPath));
     }
   } else {
     // No CLI modules found in the project root; fall back to the built-in
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/wiring/discoverCliModules.ts b/packages/cli/src/wiring/discoverCliModules.ts
index dac80c1344..fb5e8c7469 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/wiring/discoverCliModules.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/wiring/discoverCliModules.ts
@@ -23,8 +23,10 @@ import { resolve as resolvePath } from 'node:path';
  * Scans the target project root's package.json for dependencies that are CLI
  * modules (packages with `backstage.role === 'cli-module'`).
  *
- * Returns the names of discovered CLI module packages, or an empty array if
- * none are found or the project root cannot be read.
+ * Returns the resolved entry point paths of discovered CLI module packages,
+ * or an empty array if none are found or the project root cannot be read.
+ * The paths are resolved relative to the project root to ensure they can be
+ * imported regardless of where the CLI code itself is located.
  */
 export function discoverCliModules(): string[] {
   const rootDir = targetPaths.rootDir;
@@ -54,7 +56,8 @@ export function discoverCliModules(): string[] {
       });
       const depPkg = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(depPkgPath, 'utf8'));
       if (PackageRoles.getRoleFromPackage(depPkg) === 'cli-module') {
-        modules.push(depName);
+        const resolvedPath = require.resolve(depName, { paths: [rootDir] });
+        modules.push(resolvedPath);
       }
     } catch {
       // Skip packages that can't be resolved or read
diff --git a/packages/create-app/src/lib/tasks.test.ts b/packages/create-app/src/lib/tasks.test.ts
index be6852e3ab..0115790b81 100644
--- a/packages/create-app/src/lib/tasks.test.ts
+++ b/packages/create-app/src/lib/tasks.test.ts
@@ -50,6 +50,17 @@ jest.mock('./versions', () => ({
   packageVersions: {
     root: '1.2.3',
     '@backstage/cli': '1.0.0',
+    '@backstage/cli-module-auth': '1.0.0',
+    '@backstage/cli-module-build': '1.0.0',
+    '@backstage/cli-module-config': '1.0.0',
+    '@backstage/cli-module-create-github-app': '1.0.0',
+    '@backstage/cli-module-info': '1.0.0',
+    '@backstage/cli-module-lint': '1.0.0',
+    '@backstage/cli-module-maintenance': '1.0.0',
+    '@backstage/cli-module-migrate': '1.0.0',
+    '@backstage/cli-module-new': '1.0.0',
+    '@backstage/cli-module-test-jest': '1.0.0',
+    '@backstage/cli-module-translations': '1.0.0',
     '@backstage/backend-defaults': '1.0.0',
     '@backstage/backend-tasks': '1.0.0',
     '@backstage/catalog-model': '1.0.0',