diff --git a/docs/history/hatch.md b/docs/history/hatch.md
index d6a1bc601..fa423fa89 100644
--- a/docs/history/hatch.md
+++ b/docs/history/hatch.md
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/),
 ***Fixed:***
 
 - When projects derive dependencies from metadata hooks, there is now by default a status indicator for when the hooks are executed for better responsiveness
+- Properly support projects with a `pyproject.toml` file but no `project` table e.g. applications
 - Fix dependency inheritance for the template of the `types` environment for new projects
 
 ## [1.9.4](https://github.com/pypa/hatch/releases/tag/hatch-v1.9.4) - 2024-03-12 ## {: #hatch-v1.9.4 }
diff --git a/src/hatch/project/core.py b/src/hatch/project/core.py
index a4dc2357d..b16a7c8a2 100644
--- a/src/hatch/project/core.py
+++ b/src/hatch/project/core.py
@@ -121,7 +121,12 @@ def raw_config(self):
             else:
                 from hatch.utils.toml import load_toml_file
 
-                self._raw_config = load_toml_file(str(self._project_file_path))
+                raw_config = load_toml_file(str(self._project_file_path))
+                # Assume environment management only
+                if 'project' not in raw_config:
+                    raw_config['project'] = {'name': self.location.name}
+
+                self._raw_config = raw_config
 
         return self._raw_config
 
diff --git a/tests/project/test_core.py b/tests/project/test_core.py
index c3825519a..5d445df78 100644
--- a/tests/project/test_core.py
+++ b/tests/project/test_core.py
@@ -107,3 +107,30 @@ def test_project(self, temp_dir, file_name):
         project = Project(temp_dir)
         assert project.location == temp_dir
         assert project.root == temp_dir
+
+
+class TestRawConfig:
+    def test_missing(self, temp_dir):
+        project = Project(temp_dir)
+        project.find_project_root()
+
+        assert project.raw_config == {'project': {'name': temp_dir.name}}
+
+    def test_exists(self, temp_dir):
+        project_file = temp_dir / 'pyproject.toml'
+        project_file.touch()
+        project = Project(temp_dir)
+        project.find_project_root()
+
+        config = {'project': {'name': 'foo'}, 'bar': 'baz'}
+        project.save_config(config)
+
+        assert project.raw_config == config
+
+    def test_exists_without_project_table(self, temp_dir):
+        project_file = temp_dir / 'pyproject.toml'
+        project_file.touch()
+        project = Project(temp_dir)
+        project.find_project_root()
+
+        assert project.raw_config == {'project': {'name': temp_dir.name}}