diff --git a/packages/cli/bin/utils.js b/packages/cli/bin/utils.js
index 62a081683..a9cdcaf63 100644
--- a/packages/cli/bin/utils.js
+++ b/packages/cli/bin/utils.js
@@ -6,7 +6,10 @@ const path = require('path');
 const chalk = require('chalk');
 const EventEmitter = require('events').EventEmitter;
 const hasYarn = require('has-yarn');
-const { resolveFileInPackage } = require('@pattern-lab/core/src/lib/resolver');
+const {
+  resolvePackageFolder,
+  resolveFileInPackage,
+} = require('@pattern-lab/core/src/lib/resolver');
 
 /**
  * @name log
@@ -159,7 +162,7 @@ const fetchPackage = packageName =>
 const checkAndInstallPackage = packageName =>
   wrapAsync(function*() {
     try {
-      require.resolve(packageName);
+      resolvePackageFolder(packageName);
       return true;
     } catch (err) {
       debug(
diff --git a/packages/core/src/lib/resolver.js b/packages/core/src/lib/resolver.js
index 4f63a82ef..ae0bc9fee 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/lib/resolver.js
+++ b/packages/core/src/lib/resolver.js
@@ -2,12 +2,32 @@
 
 const path = require('path');
 
+/**
+ * @func resolvePackageLocations
+ * Resolves all possible package locations
+ */
+const resolvePackageLocations = () => {
+  let lookupPath = path.resolve(process.env.projectDir);
+  const paths = [lookupPath];
+  while (path.dirname(lookupPath) !== lookupPath) {
+    lookupPath = path.join(lookupPath, '../');
+    paths.push(lookupPath);
+  }
+  return paths;
+};
+
 /**
  * @func resolveFileInPackage
  * Resolves a file inside a package
  */
 const resolveFileInPackage = (packageName, ...pathElements) => {
-  return require.resolve(path.join(packageName, ...pathElements));
+  if (process.env.projectDir) {
+    return require.resolve(path.join(packageName, ...pathElements), {
+      paths: resolvePackageLocations(),
+    });
+  } else {
+    return require.resolve(path.join(packageName, ...pathElements));
+  }
 };
 
 /**