diff --git a/.changeset/clean-up-own-root-dir.md b/.changeset/clean-up-own-root-dir.md
index e702330140..c668073688 100644
--- a/.changeset/clean-up-own-root-dir.md
+++ b/.changeset/clean-up-own-root-dir.md
@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@
 '@backstage/cli-common': patch
 ---
 
-The `findOwnRootDir` utility now searches for the monorepo root by traversing up the directory tree looking for a `package.json` with `workspaces`, instead of assuming a fixed `../..` relative path.
+The `findOwnRootDir` utility now searches for the monorepo root by traversing up the directory tree looking for a `package.json` with `workspaces`, instead of assuming a fixed `../..` relative path. If no workspaces root is found during this traversal, `findOwnRootDir` now throws to enforce stricter validation of the repository layout.