diff --git a/packages/monorepo-tools/src/utils/get-packages-in-topological-order.spec.ts b/packages/monorepo-tools/src/utils/get-packages-in-topological-order.spec.ts
index 4338dd40b..c5c070ffe 100644
--- a/packages/monorepo-tools/src/utils/get-packages-in-topological-order.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/monorepo-tools/src/utils/get-packages-in-topological-order.spec.ts
@@ -200,14 +200,16 @@ describe('getPackagesInTopologicalOrder', function () {
     );
   });
 
-  it('returns empty array when there are no workspaces', async function () {
+  it('supports single repo without workspace', async function () {
     await fs.writeFile(
       path.join(tmpDir, 'package.json'),
       JSON.stringify({ name: 'root' }),
     );
 
     const result = await getPackagesInTopologicalOrder(tmpDir);
+    const names = result.map((p) => p.name);
 
-    assert.deepStrictEqual(result, []);
+    assert.strictEqual(names.length, 1);
+    assert.ok(names.includes('root'));
   });
 });
diff --git a/packages/monorepo-tools/src/utils/get-packages-in-topological-order.ts b/packages/monorepo-tools/src/utils/get-packages-in-topological-order.ts
index d5ae643e9..0f936570d 100644
--- a/packages/monorepo-tools/src/utils/get-packages-in-topological-order.ts
+++ b/packages/monorepo-tools/src/utils/get-packages-in-topological-order.ts
@@ -19,10 +19,9 @@ export interface PackageInfo {
 export async function getPackagesInTopologicalOrder(
   monorepoRoot: string,
 ): Promise<PackageInfo[]> {
-  const patterns: string[] =
-    JSON.parse(
-      await fs.readFile(path.join(monorepoRoot, `package.json`), 'utf8'),
-    ).workspaces || [];
+  const patterns: string[] = JSON.parse(
+    await fs.readFile(path.join(monorepoRoot, `package.json`), 'utf8'),
+  ).workspaces || ['.']; // default value that considers monorepo root as a "workspace" for further analysis
 
   const packageJsonPaths = await glob(
     // NOTE: glob patterns should always use forward slashes,