diff --git a/code/core/src/common/js-package-manager/BUNProxy.ts b/code/core/src/common/js-package-manager/BUNProxy.ts
index 3884c175db0b..a2030402413a 100644
--- a/code/core/src/common/js-package-manager/BUNProxy.ts
+++ b/code/core/src/common/js-package-manager/BUNProxy.ts
@@ -89,7 +89,10 @@ export class BUNProxy extends JsPackageManager {
 
   public async getModulePackageJSON(packageName: string): Promise<PackageJson | null> {
     const wantedPath = join('node_modules', packageName, 'package.json');
-    const packageJsonPath = find.up(wantedPath, { cwd: this.cwd, last: getProjectRoot() });
+    const packageJsonPath = find.up(wantedPath, {
+      cwd: this.primaryPackageJson.operationDir,
+      last: getProjectRoot(),
+    });
 
     if (!packageJsonPath) {
       return null;
diff --git a/code/core/src/common/js-package-manager/JsPackageManager.ts b/code/core/src/common/js-package-manager/JsPackageManager.ts
index f749c3283e4a..5afb7b7b77f7 100644
--- a/code/core/src/common/js-package-manager/JsPackageManager.ts
+++ b/code/core/src/common/js-package-manager/JsPackageManager.ts
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ export abstract class JsPackageManager {
   abstract getRunCommand(command: string): string;
 
   /** Get the package.json file for a given module. */
-  abstract getModulePackageJSON(packageName: string): Promise<PackageJson | null>;
+  abstract getModulePackageJSON(packageName: string, cwd?: string): Promise<PackageJson | null>;
 
   isStorybookInMonorepo() {
     const turboJsonPath = find.up(`turbo.json`, { last: getProjectRoot() });
diff --git a/code/core/src/common/js-package-manager/NPMProxy.ts b/code/core/src/common/js-package-manager/NPMProxy.ts
index 7444b64f7aea..71ed0790002e 100644
--- a/code/core/src/common/js-package-manager/NPMProxy.ts
+++ b/code/core/src/common/js-package-manager/NPMProxy.ts
@@ -78,7 +78,10 @@ export class NPMProxy extends JsPackageManager {
 
   async getModulePackageJSON(packageName: string): Promise<PackageJson | null> {
     const wantedPath = join('node_modules', packageName, 'package.json');
-    const packageJsonPath = find.up(wantedPath, { cwd: this.cwd, last: getProjectRoot() });
+    const packageJsonPath = find.up(wantedPath, {
+      cwd: this.primaryPackageJson.operationDir,
+      last: getProjectRoot(),
+    });
 
     if (!packageJsonPath) {
       return null;
diff --git a/code/core/src/common/js-package-manager/PNPMProxy.ts b/code/core/src/common/js-package-manager/PNPMProxy.ts
index 4eb2122c1f83..c781d835daa3 100644
--- a/code/core/src/common/js-package-manager/PNPMProxy.ts
+++ b/code/core/src/common/js-package-manager/PNPMProxy.ts
@@ -158,7 +158,10 @@ export class PNPMProxy extends JsPackageManager {
     }
 
     const wantedPath = join('node_modules', packageName, 'package.json');
-    const packageJsonPath = find.up(wantedPath, { cwd: this.cwd, last: getProjectRoot() });
+    const packageJsonPath = find.up(wantedPath, {
+      cwd: this.primaryPackageJson.operationDir,
+      last: getProjectRoot(),
+    });
 
     if (!packageJsonPath) {
       return null;
diff --git a/code/core/src/common/js-package-manager/Yarn1Proxy.ts b/code/core/src/common/js-package-manager/Yarn1Proxy.ts
index a13d7a13a9ed..69164b5d493f 100644
--- a/code/core/src/common/js-package-manager/Yarn1Proxy.ts
+++ b/code/core/src/common/js-package-manager/Yarn1Proxy.ts
@@ -78,7 +78,10 @@ export class Yarn1Proxy extends JsPackageManager {
 
   public async getModulePackageJSON(packageName: string): Promise<PackageJson | null> {
     const wantedPath = join('node_modules', packageName, 'package.json');
-    const packageJsonPath = find.up(wantedPath, { cwd: this.cwd, last: getProjectRoot() });
+    const packageJsonPath = find.up(wantedPath, {
+      cwd: this.primaryPackageJson.operationDir,
+      last: getProjectRoot(),
+    });
 
     if (!packageJsonPath) {
       return null;
diff --git a/code/core/src/common/js-package-manager/Yarn2Proxy.ts b/code/core/src/common/js-package-manager/Yarn2Proxy.ts
index a8d5975cec0a..bba32562b962 100644
--- a/code/core/src/common/js-package-manager/Yarn2Proxy.ts
+++ b/code/core/src/common/js-package-manager/Yarn2Proxy.ts
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ export class Yarn2Proxy extends JsPackageManager {
   // TODO: Remove pnp compatibility code in SB11
   async getModulePackageJSON(packageName: string): Promise<PackageJson | null> {
     const pnpapiPath = find.any(['.pnp.js', '.pnp.cjs'], {
-      cwd: this.cwd,
+      cwd: this.primaryPackageJson.operationDir,
       last: getProjectRoot(),
     });
 
diff --git a/code/core/src/common/utils/cli.ts b/code/core/src/common/utils/cli.ts
index 70f5cb76b8bb..9b216fbee848 100644
--- a/code/core/src/common/utils/cli.ts
+++ b/code/core/src/common/utils/cli.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ import uniqueString from 'unique-string';
 import type { JsPackageManager } from '../js-package-manager';
 import satelliteAddons from '../satellite-addons';
 import storybookPackagesVersions from '../versions';
-import { rendererPackages } from './get-storybook-info';
 
 const tempDir = () => realpath(os.tmpdir());
 
@@ -67,25 +66,6 @@ export function parseList(str: string): string[] {
     .filter((item) => item.length > 0);
 }
 
-/**
- * Given a package manager, returns the coerced version of Storybook. It tries to find renderer
- * packages in the project and returns the coerced version of the first one found. Example: If
- *
- * @storybook/react version 8.0.0-alpha.14 is installed, it returns the coerced version 8.0.0
- */
-export async function getCoercedStorybookVersion(packageManager: JsPackageManager) {
-  const packages = (
-    await Promise.all(
-      Object.keys(rendererPackages).map(async (pkg) => ({
-        name: pkg,
-        version: (await packageManager.getModulePackageJSON(pkg))?.version ?? null,
-      }))
-    )
-  ).filter(({ version }) => !!version);
-
-  return packages[0]?.version || storybookPackagesVersions.storybook;
-}
-
 export function getEnvConfig(program: Record<string, any>, configEnv: Record<string, any>): void {
   Object.keys(configEnv).forEach((fieldName) => {
     const envVarName = configEnv[fieldName];
diff --git a/code/core/src/common/utils/get-storybook-info.ts b/code/core/src/common/utils/get-storybook-info.ts
index ad83e36cf00f..88e77f038ba0 100644
--- a/code/core/src/common/utils/get-storybook-info.ts
+++ b/code/core/src/common/utils/get-storybook-info.ts
@@ -150,12 +150,12 @@ export const getStorybookInfo = async (
   const frameworkValue = mainConfig.framework;
   const frameworkField = typeof frameworkValue === 'string' ? frameworkValue : frameworkValue?.name;
   const addons = getAddonNames(mainConfig);
-  const version = getStorybookVersionSpecifier(configDir);
+  const versionSpecifier = getStorybookVersionSpecifier(configDir);
 
   if (!frameworkField) {
     return {
       ...configInfo,
-      version,
+      versionSpecifier,
       addons,
       mainConfig,
       mainConfigPath: configInfo.mainConfigPath ?? undefined,
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ export const getStorybookInfo = async (
     addons,
     mainConfig,
     framework,
-    version,
+    versionSpecifier,
     renderer: renderer ?? undefined,
     builder: builder ?? undefined,
     frameworkPackage,
diff --git a/code/core/src/telemetry/storybook-metadata.ts b/code/core/src/telemetry/storybook-metadata.ts
index 56d4f7a357cb..5d420f2cabfd 100644
--- a/code/core/src/telemetry/storybook-metadata.ts
+++ b/code/core/src/telemetry/storybook-metadata.ts
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ export const computeStorybookMetadata = async ({
     portableStoriesFileCount,
     applicationFileCount,
     storybookVersion: version,
-    storybookVersionSpecifier: storybookInfo.version ?? '',
+    storybookVersionSpecifier: storybookInfo.versionSpecifier ?? '',
     language,
     storybookPackages,
     addons,
diff --git a/code/core/src/types/modules/core-common.ts b/code/core/src/types/modules/core-common.ts
index 1f4406111ada..3523f60f7f0c 100644
--- a/code/core/src/types/modules/core-common.ts
+++ b/code/core/src/types/modules/core-common.ts
@@ -684,7 +684,7 @@ export type CoreCommon_AddonInfo = { name: string; inEssentials: boolean };
 
 export interface CoreCommon_StorybookInfo {
   addons: string[];
-  version?: string;
+  versionSpecifier?: string;
   framework?: SupportedFramework;
   renderer?: SupportedRenderer;
   builder?: SupportedBuilder;
diff --git a/code/lib/cli-storybook/src/add.test.ts b/code/lib/cli-storybook/src/add.test.ts
index d9a00130ee64..c5554cac28ee 100644
--- a/code/lib/cli-storybook/src/add.test.ts
+++ b/code/lib/cli-storybook/src/add.test.ts
@@ -85,7 +85,6 @@ vi.mock('storybook/internal/common', () => {
     getAbsolutePathWrapperName: MockWrapGetAbsolutePathUtils.getAbsolutePathWrapperName,
     wrapValueWithGetAbsolutePathWrapper:
       MockWrapGetAbsolutePathUtils.wrapValueWithGetAbsolutePathWrapper,
-    getCoercedStorybookVersion: vi.fn(() => '8.0.0'),
     versions: {
       storybook: '8.0.0',
       '@storybook/addon-docs': '8.0.0',
diff --git a/code/lib/cli-storybook/src/automigrate/fixes/remove-essentials.ts b/code/lib/cli-storybook/src/automigrate/fixes/remove-essentials.ts
index 77948f6d458b..9e1151065a42 100644
--- a/code/lib/cli-storybook/src/automigrate/fixes/remove-essentials.ts
+++ b/code/lib/cli-storybook/src/automigrate/fixes/remove-essentials.ts
@@ -131,18 +131,11 @@ export const removeEssentials: Fix<AddonDocsOptions> = {
     dryRun,
     packageManager,
     configDir,
-    storybookVersion,
     storiesPaths,
     mainConfigPath,
     previewConfigPath,
   }) {
-    const {
-      hasEssentials,
-      hasDocsDisabled,
-      hasDocsAddon,
-      additionalAddonsToRemove,
-      essentialsOptions,
-    } = result;
+    const { hasEssentials, hasDocsDisabled, additionalAddonsToRemove, essentialsOptions } = result;
 
     if (!hasEssentials && additionalAddonsToRemove.length === 0) {
       return;
diff --git a/code/lib/cli-storybook/src/automigrate/helpers/mainConfigFile.ts b/code/lib/cli-storybook/src/automigrate/helpers/mainConfigFile.ts
index 94e6269fa8bd..647944437211 100644
--- a/code/lib/cli-storybook/src/automigrate/helpers/mainConfigFile.ts
+++ b/code/lib/cli-storybook/src/automigrate/helpers/mainConfigFile.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import {
   getStorybookInfo,
 } from 'storybook/internal/common';
 import type { PackageManagerName } from 'storybook/internal/common';
-import { frameworkToRenderer, getCoercedStorybookVersion } from 'storybook/internal/common';
+import { frameworkToRenderer } from 'storybook/internal/common';
 import type { ConfigFile } from 'storybook/internal/csf-tools';
 import { readConfig, writeConfig as writeConfigFile } from 'storybook/internal/csf-tools';
 import { logger } from 'storybook/internal/node-logger';
@@ -101,11 +101,9 @@ export const getFrameworkOptions = (
 
 export const getStorybookData = async ({
   configDir: userDefinedConfigDir,
-  cwd,
   packageManagerName,
 }: {
   configDir?: string;
-  cwd?: string;
   packageManagerName?: PackageManagerName;
   cache?: boolean;
 }) => {
@@ -115,7 +113,11 @@ export const getStorybookData = async ({
     mainConfigPath: mainConfigPath,
     configDir: configDirFromScript,
     previewConfigPath,
-  } = await getStorybookInfo(userDefinedConfigDir, cwd);
+    versionSpecifier,
+  } = await getStorybookInfo(
+    userDefinedConfigDir,
+    userDefinedConfigDir ? dirname(userDefinedConfigDir) : undefined
+  );
 
   const configDir = userDefinedConfigDir || configDirFromScript || '.storybook';
 
@@ -123,7 +125,7 @@ export const getStorybookData = async ({
 
   const workingDir = isAbsolute(configDir)
     ? dirname(configDir)
-    : dirname(join(cwd ?? process.cwd(), configDir));
+    : dirname(join(process.cwd(), configDir));
 
   logger.debug('Getting stories paths...');
   const storiesPaths = await getStoriesPathsFromConfig({
@@ -140,12 +142,15 @@ export const getStorybookData = async ({
   });
 
   logger.debug('Getting Storybook version...');
-  const storybookVersion = await getCoercedStorybookVersion(packageManager);
+  const versionInstalled = (await packageManager.getModulePackageJSON('storybook'))?.version;
 
   return {
     configDir,
     mainConfig,
-    storybookVersion,
+    /** The version specifier of Storybook from the user's package.json */
+    versionSpecifier,
+    /** The version of Storybook installed in the user's project */
+    versionInstalled,
     mainConfigPath,
     previewConfigPath,
     packageManager,
diff --git a/code/lib/cli-storybook/src/automigrate/index.test.ts b/code/lib/cli-storybook/src/automigrate/index.test.ts
index 88b46248c5ea..e7e8f7553f9a 100644
--- a/code/lib/cli-storybook/src/automigrate/index.test.ts
+++ b/code/lib/cli-storybook/src/automigrate/index.test.ts
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ vi.mock('storybook/internal/node-logger', () => ({
   },
 }));
 
-const fixes: Fix<any>[] = [
+const fixes: Fix[] = [
   {
     id: 'fix-1',
 
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ class PackageManager implements Partial<JsPackageManager> {
   }
 }
 
-const packageManager = new PackageManager() as any as JsPackageManager;
+const packageManager = new PackageManager() as unknown as JsPackageManager;
 
 const dryRun = false;
 const yes = true;
@@ -113,17 +113,10 @@ const common = {
   storiesPaths: [],
 };
 
-const runFixWrapper = async ({
-  beforeVersion,
-  storybookVersion,
-}: {
-  beforeVersion: string;
-  storybookVersion: string;
-}) => {
+const runFixWrapper = async ({ storybookVersion }: { storybookVersion: string }) => {
   return runFixes({
     ...common,
     storybookVersion,
-    beforeVersion,
   });
 };
 
@@ -134,15 +127,13 @@ const runAutomigrateWrapper = async ({
   beforeVersion: string;
   storybookVersion: string;
 }) => {
-  getStorybookData.mockImplementation(() => {
-    return {
-      ...common,
-      beforeVersion,
-      storybookVersion,
-      isLatest: true,
-    };
+  getStorybookData.mockResolvedValue({
+    ...common,
+    beforeVersion,
+    versionInstalled: storybookVersion,
+    isLatest: true,
   });
-  return doAutomigrate({ configDir });
+  return doAutomigrate({ configDir, fixes });
 };
 
 describe('runFixes', () => {
@@ -161,7 +152,7 @@ describe('runFixes', () => {
   });
 
   it('should be necessary to run fix-1 from SB 6.5.15 to 7.0.0', async () => {
-    const { fixResults } = await runFixWrapper({ beforeVersion, storybookVersion: '7.0.0' });
+    const { fixResults } = await runFixWrapper({ storybookVersion: '7.0.0' });
 
     expect(fixResults).toEqual({
       'fix-1': 'succeeded',
@@ -182,7 +173,7 @@ describe('runFixes', () => {
   it('should fail if an error is thrown by migration', async () => {
     check1.mockRejectedValue(new Error('check1 error'));
 
-    const { fixResults } = await runFixWrapper({ beforeVersion, storybookVersion: '7.0.0' });
+    const { fixResults } = await runFixWrapper({ storybookVersion: '7.0.0' });
 
     expect(fixResults).toEqual({
       'fix-1': 'check_failed',
@@ -190,7 +181,7 @@ describe('runFixes', () => {
     expect(run1).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 
-  it('should throw error if an error is thrown my migration', async () => {
+  it('should throw error if an error is thrown by migration', async () => {
     check1.mockRejectedValue(new Error('check1 error'));
 
     const result = runAutomigrateWrapper({ beforeVersion, storybookVersion: '7.0.0' });
diff --git a/code/lib/cli-storybook/src/automigrate/index.ts b/code/lib/cli-storybook/src/automigrate/index.ts
index 937c2402ad3e..b2f6e0a74e21 100644
--- a/code/lib/cli-storybook/src/automigrate/index.ts
+++ b/code/lib/cli-storybook/src/automigrate/index.ts
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ export const doAutomigrate = async (options: AutofixOptionsFromCLI) => {
     mainConfig,
     mainConfigPath,
     previewConfigPath,
-    storybookVersion,
+    versionInstalled,
     configDir,
     packageManager,
     storiesPaths,
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ export const doAutomigrate = async (options: AutofixOptionsFromCLI) => {
     packageManagerName: options.packageManager,
   });
 
-  if (!storybookVersion) {
+  if (!versionInstalled) {
     throw new Error('Could not determine Storybook version');
   }
 
@@ -66,8 +66,7 @@ export const doAutomigrate = async (options: AutofixOptionsFromCLI) => {
   const outcome = await automigrate({
     ...options,
     packageManager,
-    storybookVersion,
-    beforeVersion: storybookVersion,
+    storybookVersion: versionInstalled,
     mainConfigPath,
     mainConfig,
     previewConfigPath,
@@ -114,7 +113,6 @@ export const automigrate = async ({
   mainConfigPath,
   previewConfigPath,
   storybookVersion,
-  beforeVersion,
   renderer: rendererPackage,
   skipInstall,
   hideMigrationSummary = false,
@@ -184,7 +182,6 @@ export const automigrate = async ({
     mainConfig,
     mainConfigPath,
     storybookVersion,
-    beforeVersion,
     isUpgrade: !!isUpgrade,
     dryRun,
     yes,
@@ -219,7 +216,6 @@ type RunFixesOptions = {
   previewConfigPath?: string;
   mainConfig: StorybookConfigRaw;
   storybookVersion: string;
-  beforeVersion: string;
   isUpgrade?: boolean;
 };
 
diff --git a/code/lib/cli-storybook/src/automigrate/types.ts b/code/lib/cli-storybook/src/automigrate/types.ts
index 627f810097ee..3a58893c1ed6 100644
--- a/code/lib/cli-storybook/src/automigrate/types.ts
+++ b/code/lib/cli-storybook/src/automigrate/types.ts
@@ -77,8 +77,6 @@ export interface AutofixOptions extends Omit<AutofixOptionsFromCLI, 'packageMana
   mainConfigPath: string;
   previewConfigPath?: string;
   mainConfig: StorybookConfigRaw;
-  /** The version of Storybook before the migration. */
-  beforeVersion: string;
   storybookVersion: string;
   /** Whether the migration is part of an upgrade. */
   isUpgrade: boolean;
diff --git a/code/lib/cli-storybook/src/doctor/index.ts b/code/lib/cli-storybook/src/doctor/index.ts
index a366c23c2981..25ff4c320e83 100644
--- a/code/lib/cli-storybook/src/doctor/index.ts
+++ b/code/lib/cli-storybook/src/doctor/index.ts
@@ -193,11 +193,11 @@ export const doctor = async ({
 
   let packageManager!: JsPackageManager;
   let configDir!: string;
-  let storybookVersion!: string;
+  let versionInstalled: string | undefined;
   let mainConfig!: StorybookConfigRaw;
 
   try {
-    ({ packageManager, configDir, storybookVersion, mainConfig } = await getStorybookData({
+    ({ packageManager, configDir, versionInstalled, mainConfig } = await getStorybookData({
       configDir: userSpecifiedConfigDir,
       packageManagerName,
     }));
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ export const doctor = async ({
     {
       configDir,
       packageManager,
-      storybookVersion,
+      storybookVersion: versionInstalled,
       mainConfig,
     },
   ]);
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ export async function getDoctorDiagnostics({
 }: {
   configDir: string;
   packageManager: JsPackageManager;
-  storybookVersion: string;
+  storybookVersion?: string;
   mainConfig: StorybookConfigRaw;
 }): Promise<DoctorCheckResult[]> {
   const results: DoctorCheckResult[] = [];
diff --git a/code/lib/cli-storybook/src/doctor/types.ts b/code/lib/cli-storybook/src/doctor/types.ts
index 677c7f2cef30..35854a0119b4 100644
--- a/code/lib/cli-storybook/src/doctor/types.ts
+++ b/code/lib/cli-storybook/src/doctor/types.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ export interface DoctorOptions {
 export interface ProjectDoctorData {
   configDir: string;
   packageManager: JsPackageManager;
-  storybookVersion: string;
+  storybookVersion?: string;
   mainConfig: StorybookConfigRaw;
 }
 
diff --git a/code/lib/cli-storybook/src/util.ts b/code/lib/cli-storybook/src/util.ts
index a1009b5f056c..df825575a6c4 100644
--- a/code/lib/cli-storybook/src/util.ts
+++ b/code/lib/cli-storybook/src/util.ts
@@ -290,15 +290,15 @@ const processProject = async ({
       packageManager,
       previewConfigPath,
       storiesPaths,
-      storybookVersion: beforeVersion,
+      versionInstalled,
     } = await getStorybookData({ configDir });
 
     // Validate version and upgrade compatibility
-    logger.debug(`${name} - Validating before version... ${beforeVersion}`);
-    validateVersion(beforeVersion);
-    const isCanary = isCanaryVersion(currentCLIVersion) || isCanaryVersion(beforeVersion);
+    logger.debug(`${name} - Validating before version... ${versionInstalled}`);
+    validateVersion(versionInstalled);
+    const isCanary = isCanaryVersion(currentCLIVersion) || isCanaryVersion(versionInstalled);
     logger.debug(`${name} - Validating upgrade compatibility...`);
-    validateUpgradeCompatibility(currentCLIVersion, beforeVersion, isCanary);
+    validateUpgradeCompatibility(currentCLIVersion, versionInstalled, isCanary);
 
     // Get version information from NPM
     logger.debug(`${name} - Fetching NPM version information...`);
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ const processProject = async ({
     const isCLIExactLatest = currentCLIVersion === latestCLIVersionOnNPM;
     const isCLIPrerelease = prerelease(currentCLIVersion) !== null;
     const isCLIExactPrerelease = currentCLIVersion === latestPrereleaseCLIVersionOnNPM;
-    const isUpgrade = lt(beforeVersion, currentCLIVersion);
+    const isUpgrade = lt(versionInstalled, currentCLIVersion);
 
     // Check for blockers
     let autoblockerCheckResults: AutoblockerResult<unknown>[] | null = null;
@@ -341,7 +341,7 @@ const processProject = async ({
       isCLIPrerelease,
       isCLIExactLatest,
       isUpgrade,
-      beforeVersion,
+      beforeVersion: versionInstalled,
       currentCLIVersion,
       latestCLIVersionOnNPM: latestCLIVersionOnNPM!,
       isCLIExactPrerelease,