diff --git a/cli/src/cordova.ts b/cli/src/cordova.ts
index 9698c52028..33eba05881 100644
--- a/cli/src/cordova.ts
+++ b/cli/src/cordova.ts
@@ -414,7 +414,9 @@ ${applicationXMLEntries.join('\n')}
 ${rootXMLEntries.join('\n')}
 </manifest>`;
   content = content.replace(new RegExp(('$PACKAGE_NAME').replace('$', '\\$&'), 'g'), config.app.appId);
-  await writeFileAsync(manifestPath, content);
+  if (existsSync(manifestPath)) {
+    await writeFileAsync(manifestPath, content);
+  }
 }
 
 function getPathParts(path: string) {