diff --git a/packages/cypress/src/generators/cypress-project/cypress-project.spec.ts b/packages/cypress/src/generators/cypress-project/cypress-project.spec.ts
index 1fa119a4be94d..ff77c2858f205 100644
--- a/packages/cypress/src/generators/cypress-project/cypress-project.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/cypress/src/generators/cypress-project/cypress-project.spec.ts
@@ -11,9 +11,10 @@ import { cypressProjectGenerator } from './cypress-project';
 import { Schema } from './schema';
 import { Linter } from '@nrwl/linter';
 import { installedCypressVersion } from '../../utils/cypress-version';
+import { cypressInitGenerator } from '../init/init';
 
 jest.mock('../../utils/cypress-version');
-
+jest.mock('../init/init');
 describe('Cypress Project', () => {
   let tree: Tree;
   const defaultOptions: Omit<Schema, 'name' | 'project'> = {
@@ -23,6 +24,8 @@ describe('Cypress Project', () => {
   let mockedInstalledCypressVersion: jest.Mock<
     ReturnType<typeof installedCypressVersion>
   > = installedCypressVersion as never;
+  let mockInitCypress: jest.Mock<ReturnType<typeof cypressInitGenerator>> =
+    cypressInitGenerator as never;
 
   beforeEach(() => {
     tree = createTreeWithEmptyV1Workspace();
@@ -55,6 +58,26 @@ describe('Cypress Project', () => {
   });
   afterEach(() => jest.clearAllMocks());
 
+  it('should call init if cypress is not installed', async () => {
+    mockedInstalledCypressVersion.mockReturnValue(null);
+    await cypressProjectGenerator(tree, {
+      ...defaultOptions,
+      name: 'my-app-e2e',
+      project: 'my-app',
+    });
+    expect(mockInitCypress).toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it('should call not init if cypress is installed', async () => {
+    mockedInstalledCypressVersion.mockReturnValue(10);
+    await cypressProjectGenerator(tree, {
+      ...defaultOptions,
+      name: 'my-app-e2e',
+      project: 'my-app',
+    });
+    expect(mockInitCypress).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
   describe('> v10', () => {
     beforeEach(() => {
       mockedInstalledCypressVersion.mockReturnValue(10);
diff --git a/packages/cypress/src/generators/cypress-project/cypress-project.ts b/packages/cypress/src/generators/cypress-project/cypress-project.ts
index f03005f285818..86eaa3f8a1b2f 100644
--- a/packages/cypress/src/generators/cypress-project/cypress-project.ts
+++ b/packages/cypress/src/generators/cypress-project/cypress-project.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import {
   cypressVersion,
   eslintPluginCypressVersion,
 } from '../../utils/versions';
+import { cypressInitGenerator } from '../init/init';
 // app
 import { Schema } from './schema';
 
@@ -248,13 +249,21 @@ export async function addLinter(host: Tree, options: CypressProjectSchema) {
 
 export async function cypressProjectGenerator(host: Tree, schema: Schema) {
   const options = normalizeOptions(host, schema);
+  const tasks = [];
+  const cypressVersion = installedCypressVersion();
+  // if there is an installed cypress version, then we don't call
+  // init since we want to keep the existing version that is installed
+  if (!cypressVersion) {
+    tasks.push(cypressInitGenerator(host, options));
+  }
   createFiles(host, options);
   addProject(host, options);
   const installTask = await addLinter(host, options);
+  tasks.push(installTask);
   if (!options.skipFormat) {
     await formatFiles(host);
   }
-  return installTask;
+  return runTasksInSerial(...tasks);
 }
 
 function normalizeOptions(host: Tree, options: Schema): CypressProjectSchema {