diff --git a/crates/uv/src/commands/project/version.rs b/crates/uv/src/commands/project/version.rs
index efba226b9d948..c4b32485d3605 100644
--- a/crates/uv/src/commands/project/version.rs
+++ b/crates/uv/src/commands/project/version.rs
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ use uv_python::{PythonDownloads, PythonPreference, PythonRequest};
 use uv_settings::PythonInstallMirrors;
 use uv_workspace::pyproject_mut::Error;
 use uv_workspace::{
-    DiscoveryOptions, WorkspaceCache,
+    DiscoveryOptions, WorkspaceCache, WorkspaceError,
     pyproject_mut::{DependencyTarget, PyProjectTomlMut},
 };
 use uv_workspace::{VirtualProject, Workspace};
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ pub(crate) async fn project_version(
     output_format: VersionFormat,
     project_dir: &Path,
     package: Option<PackageName>,
+    explicit_project: bool,
     dry_run: bool,
     locked: bool,
     frozen: bool,
@@ -78,7 +79,7 @@ pub(crate) async fn project_version(
     preview: PreviewMode,
 ) -> Result<ExitStatus> {
     // Read the metadata
-    let project = find_target(project_dir, package.as_ref()).await?;
+    let project = find_target(project_dir, package.as_ref(), explicit_project).await?;
 
     let pyproject_path = project.root().join("pyproject.toml");
     let Some(name) = project.project_name().cloned() else {
@@ -325,10 +326,30 @@ pub(crate) async fn project_version(
     Ok(status)
 }
 
+/// Add hint to use `uv self version` when workspace discovery fails due to missing pyproject.toml
+/// and --project was not explicitly passed
+fn hint_uv_self_version(err: WorkspaceError, explicit_project: bool) -> anyhow::Error {
+    if matches!(err, WorkspaceError::MissingPyprojectToml) && !explicit_project {
+        anyhow!(
+            "{}\n\n{}{} If you meant to view uv's version, use `{}` instead",
+            err,
+            "hint".bold().cyan(),
+            ":".bold(),
+            "uv self version".green()
+        )
+    } else {
+        err.into()
+    }
+}
+
 /// Find the pyproject.toml we're modifying
 ///
 /// Note that `uv version` never needs to support PEP 723 scripts, as those are unversioned.
-async fn find_target(project_dir: &Path, package: Option<&PackageName>) -> Result<VirtualProject> {
+async fn find_target(
+    project_dir: &Path,
+    package: Option<&PackageName>,
+    explicit_project: bool,
+) -> Result<VirtualProject> {
     // Find the project in the workspace.
     // No workspace caching since `uv version` changes the workspace definition.
     let project = if let Some(package) = package {
@@ -338,7 +359,8 @@ async fn find_target(project_dir: &Path, package: Option<&PackageName>) -> Resul
                 &DiscoveryOptions::default(),
                 &WorkspaceCache::default(),
             )
-            .await?
+            .await
+            .map_err(|err| hint_uv_self_version(err, explicit_project))?
             .with_current_project(package.clone())
             .with_context(|| format!("Package `{package}` not found in workspace"))?,
         )
@@ -348,7 +370,8 @@ async fn find_target(project_dir: &Path, package: Option<&PackageName>) -> Resul
             &DiscoveryOptions::default(),
             &WorkspaceCache::default(),
         )
-        .await?
+        .await
+        .map_err(|err| hint_uv_self_version(err, explicit_project))?
     };
     Ok(project)
 }
diff --git a/crates/uv/src/lib.rs b/crates/uv/src/lib.rs
index 0f6c9465f95b2..4446572949abe 100644
--- a/crates/uv/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/uv/src/lib.rs
@@ -1073,6 +1073,7 @@ async fn run(mut cli: Cli) -> Result<ExitStatus> {
                 script,
                 globals,
                 cli.top_level.no_config,
+                cli.top_level.global_args.project.is_some(),
                 filesystem,
                 cache,
                 printer,
@@ -1674,6 +1675,7 @@ async fn run_project(
     globals: GlobalSettings,
     // TODO(zanieb): Determine a better story for passing `no_config` in here
     no_config: bool,
+    explicit_project: bool,
     filesystem: Option<FilesystemOptions>,
     cache: Cache,
     printer: Printer,
@@ -2065,6 +2067,7 @@ async fn run_project(
                 args.output_format,
                 project_dir,
                 args.package,
+                explicit_project,
                 args.dry_run,
                 args.locked,
                 args.frozen,
diff --git a/crates/uv/tests/it/version.rs b/crates/uv/tests/it/version.rs
index 78dd6425280a2..0ea432c1cda2d 100644
--- a/crates/uv/tests/it/version.rs
+++ b/crates/uv/tests/it/version.rs
@@ -1687,20 +1687,20 @@ fn version_get_fallback_missing_strict() -> Result<()> {
     Ok(())
 }
 
-// Should error if this pyproject.toml is missing
-// and --preview was passed explicitly.
+/// Should error with hint if pyproject.toml is missing in normal mode
 #[test]
-fn version_get_fallback_missing_strict_preview() -> Result<()> {
+fn version_get_missing_with_hint() -> Result<()> {
     let context = TestContext::new("3.12");
 
-    uv_snapshot!(context.filters(), context.version()
-        .arg("--preview"), @r"
+    uv_snapshot!(context.filters(), context.version(), @r"
     success: false
     exit_code: 2
     ----- stdout -----
 
     ----- stderr -----
     error: No `pyproject.toml` found in current directory or any parent directory
+
+    hint: If you meant to view uv's version, use `uv self version` instead
     ");
 
     Ok(())