diff --git a/reflex/reflex.py b/reflex/reflex.py
index 9ec65ab586c..3c802c5414a 100644
--- a/reflex/reflex.py
+++ b/reflex/reflex.py
@@ -151,8 +151,10 @@ def _run(
     if not frontend and backend:
         _skip_compile()
 
+    prerequisites.assert_in_reflex_dir()
+
     # Check that the app is initialized.
-    if prerequisites.needs_reinit(frontend=frontend):
+    if frontend and prerequisites.needs_reinit():
         _init(name=config.app_name)
 
     # Delete the states folder if it exists.
@@ -403,19 +405,21 @@ def export(
 
     environment.REFLEX_COMPILE_CONTEXT.set(constants.CompileContext.EXPORT)
 
-    frontend_only, backend_only = prerequisites.check_running_mode(
+    should_frontend_run, should_backend_run = prerequisites.check_running_mode(
         frontend_only, backend_only
     )
 
     config = get_config()
 
-    if prerequisites.needs_reinit(frontend=frontend_only or not backend_only):
+    prerequisites.assert_in_reflex_dir()
+
+    if should_frontend_run and prerequisites.needs_reinit():
         _init(name=config.app_name)
 
     export_utils.export(
         zipping=zip,
-        frontend=frontend_only,
-        backend=backend_only,
+        frontend=should_frontend_run,
+        backend=should_backend_run,
         zip_dest_dir=zip_dest_dir,
         upload_db_file=upload_db_file,
         env=constants.Env.DEV if env == constants.Env.DEV else constants.Env.PROD,
@@ -631,8 +635,10 @@ def deploy(
     if interactive:
         dependency.check_requirements()
 
+    prerequisites.assert_in_reflex_dir()
+
     # Check if we are set up.
-    if prerequisites.needs_reinit(frontend=True):
+    if prerequisites.needs_reinit():
         _init(name=config.app_name)
     prerequisites.check_latest_package_version(constants.ReflexHostingCLI.MODULE_NAME)
 
diff --git a/reflex/testing.py b/reflex/testing.py
index d0c6a32d3d8..47ea2976b46 100644
--- a/reflex/testing.py
+++ b/reflex/testing.py
@@ -937,7 +937,9 @@ def _start_frontend(self):
 
             get_config().loglevel = reflex.constants.LogLevel.INFO
 
-            if reflex.utils.prerequisites.needs_reinit(frontend=True):
+            reflex.utils.prerequisites.assert_in_reflex_dir()
+
+            if reflex.utils.prerequisites.needs_reinit():
                 reflex.reflex._init(name=get_config().app_name)
 
             export(
diff --git a/reflex/utils/prerequisites.py b/reflex/utils/prerequisites.py
index cde40ca0576..c56d7dd2abc 100644
--- a/reflex/utils/prerequisites.py
+++ b/reflex/utils/prerequisites.py
@@ -1370,17 +1370,11 @@ def check_running_mode(frontend: bool, backend: bool) -> tuple[bool, bool]:
     return frontend, backend
 
 
-def needs_reinit(frontend: bool = True) -> bool:
-    """Check if an app needs to be reinitialized.
-
-    Args:
-        frontend: Whether to check if the frontend is initialized.
-
-    Returns:
-        Whether the app needs to be reinitialized.
+def assert_in_reflex_dir():
+    """Assert that the current working directory is the reflex directory.
 
     Raises:
-        Exit: If the app is not initialized.
+        Exit: If the current working directory is not the reflex directory.
     """
     if not constants.Config.FILE.exists():
         console.error(
@@ -1388,10 +1382,13 @@ def needs_reinit(frontend: bool = True) -> bool:
         )
         raise click.exceptions.Exit(1)
 
-    # Don't need to reinit if not running in frontend mode.
-    if not frontend:
-        return False
 
+def needs_reinit() -> bool:
+    """Check if an app needs to be reinitialized.
+
+    Returns:
+        Whether the app needs to be reinitialized.
+    """
     # Make sure the .reflex directory exists.
     if not environment.REFLEX_DIR.get().exists():
         return True