diff --git a/pkgs/dart_mcp/CHANGELOG.md b/pkgs/dart_mcp/CHANGELOG.md
index 295e3cce..914b6c9f 100644
--- a/pkgs/dart_mcp/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/pkgs/dart_mcp/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 - Update the tool calling example to include progress notifications.
 - Remove a reference to "screenshot" for a generic error that occurs for more
   than just screenshots.
+- Mark the "root" parameter for create_project required.
 
 ## 0.3.3
 
diff --git a/pkgs/dart_mcp_server/lib/src/mixins/dash_cli.dart b/pkgs/dart_mcp_server/lib/src/mixins/dash_cli.dart
index 64a5bf7c..60fb31a0 100644
--- a/pkgs/dart_mcp_server/lib/src/mixins/dash_cli.dart
+++ b/pkgs/dart_mcp_server/lib/src/mixins/dash_cli.dart
@@ -253,7 +253,11 @@ base mixin DashCliSupport on ToolsSupport, LoggingSupport, RootsTrackingSupport
               'boilerplate and example code. Defaults to true.',
         ),
       },
-      required: [ParameterNames.directory, ParameterNames.projectType],
+      required: [
+        ParameterNames.directory,
+        ParameterNames.projectType,
+        ParameterNames.root,
+      ],
     ),
   );
 
diff --git a/pkgs/dart_mcp_server/test/tools/dart_cli_test.dart b/pkgs/dart_mcp_server/test/tools/dart_cli_test.dart
index f7e30d1d..fdfa84b6 100644
--- a/pkgs/dart_mcp_server/test/tools/dart_cli_test.dart
+++ b/pkgs/dart_mcp_server/test/tools/dart_cli_test.dart
@@ -434,7 +434,7 @@ dependencies:
         expect(result.isError, true);
         expect(
           (result.content.first as TextContent).text,
-          contains('missing `root` key'),
+          contains('Required property "root" is missing'),
         );
         expect(testProcessManager.commandsRan, isEmpty);
       });