diff --git a/packages/cli/lib/init-local.ts b/packages/cli/lib/init-local.ts
index 0ea31527ed..17250348f9 100644
--- a/packages/cli/lib/init-local.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/lib/init-local.ts
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ export function initLocal(workspace: Workspace) {
             })
         );
       } else {
+        require('@nrwl/tao/src/compat/compat');
         loadCli(workspace, '@angular/cli/lib/init.js');
       }
     }
diff --git a/packages/tao/src/compat/compat.ts b/packages/tao/src/compat/compat.ts
index 27cf13f949..1df30bf61d 100644
--- a/packages/tao/src/compat/compat.ts
+++ b/packages/tao/src/compat/compat.ts
@@ -58,12 +58,12 @@ if (!patched) {
         `@angular-devkit/core/src/workspace/json/reader`,
       ]);
       const originalReadJsonWorkspace = readJsonUtils.readJsonWorkspace;
-      readJsonUtils.readJsonWorkspace = (
+      readJsonUtils.readJsonWorkspace = async (
         path,
         host: { readFile: (p) => Promise<string> }
       ) => {
         try {
-          return originalReadJsonWorkspace(path, host);
+          return await originalReadJsonWorkspace(path, host);
         } catch {
           logger.debug(
             '[NX] Angular devkit readJsonWorkspace fell back to Nx workspaces logic'