diff --git a/djinit/scripts/files.py b/djinit/scripts/files.py
index a47355b..6dc3afe 100644
--- a/djinit/scripts/files.py
+++ b/djinit/scripts/files.py
@@ -77,7 +77,11 @@ class FileManager:
 
     def create_pyproject_toml(self, metadata: dict) -> bool:
         with change_cwd(self.project_root):
-            context = {"package_name": metadata["package_name"], "project_name": self.project_name}
+            # Default package_name to "backend" if it's "." or empty
+            package_name = metadata.get("package_name", "backend")
+            if package_name == "." or not package_name:
+                package_name = "backend"
+            context = {"package_name": package_name, "project_name": self.project_name}
             pyproject_content = template_engine.render_template("shared/pyproject_toml.j2", context)
             return create_file_with_content(
                 "pyproject.toml",
diff --git a/djinit/scripts/input_handler.py b/djinit/scripts/input_handler.py
index c3afd5b..c1502c4 100644
--- a/djinit/scripts/input_handler.py
+++ b/djinit/scripts/input_handler.py
@@ -412,8 +412,10 @@ def get_user_input() -> Tuple[str, str, str, list, dict]:
 
         # Ask database configuration for predefined structure as well
         use_database_url = collector.get_database_config_choice()
+        # Default package_name to "backend" if project_dir is "." or empty
+        package_name = "backend" if project_dir == "." or not project_dir else project_dir
         metadata = ProjectMetadata(
-            package_name=project_dir,
+            package_name=package_name,
             use_github_actions=use_github,
             use_gitlab_ci=use_gitlab,
             nested_apps=True,
@@ -459,8 +461,10 @@ def get_user_input() -> Tuple[str, str, str, list, dict]:
     use_database_url = collector.get_database_config_choice()
 
     # Create metadata
+    # Default package_name to "backend" if project_dir is "." or empty
+    package_name = "backend" if project_dir == "." or not project_dir else project_dir
     metadata = ProjectMetadata(
-        package_name=project_dir,
+        package_name=package_name,
         use_github_actions=use_github,
         use_gitlab_ci=use_gitlab,
         nested_apps=nested,