diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/init/init.js b/packages/cli/src/commands/init/init.js
index 6957d75596..284c789155 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/init/init.js
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/init/init.js
@@ -87,13 +87,11 @@ function adjustNameIfUrl(name, cwd) {
 async function createFromTemplate({
   projectName,
   templateName,
-  version,
   npm,
   directory,
 }: {
   projectName: string,
   templateName: string,
-  version?: string,
   npm?: boolean,
   directory: string,
 }) {
@@ -108,17 +106,9 @@ async function createFromTemplate({
     path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'rncli-init-template-'),
   );
 
-  if (version && semver.valid(version) && !semver.gte(version, '0.60.0-rc.0')) {
-    throw new Error(
-      'Cannot use React Native CLI to initialize project with version lower than 0.60.0.',
-    );
-  }
-
   try {
     loader.start();
-    let {uri, name} = await processTemplateName(
-      version ? `${templateName}@${version}` : templateName,
-    );
+    let {uri, name} = await processTemplateName(templateName);
 
     await installTemplatePackage(uri, templateSourceDir, npm);
 
@@ -181,14 +171,21 @@ async function createProject(
   version: string,
   options: Options,
 ) {
-  const templateName = options.template || 'react-native';
+  const templateName = options.template || `react-native@${version}`;
+
+  if (
+    version !== 'latest' &&
+    semver.valid(version) &&
+    !semver.gte(version, '0.60.0-rc.0')
+  ) {
+    throw new Error(
+      'Cannot use React Native CLI to initialize project with version lower than 0.60.0.',
+    );
+  }
 
   return createFromTemplate({
     projectName,
     templateName,
-    // version is "latest" by default, but it's easier for us to treat it as
-    // undefined when the "template" param is passed. Might refactor later
-    version: options.template ? undefined : version,
     npm: options.npm,
     directory,
   });
@@ -196,10 +193,10 @@ async function createProject(
 
 export default (async function initialize(
   [projectName]: Array<string>,
-  _context: ConfigT,
+  context: ConfigT,
   options: Options,
 ) {
-  const rootFolder = process.cwd();
+  const rootFolder = context.root;
 
   validateProjectName(projectName);
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/tools/installPods.js b/packages/cli/src/tools/installPods.js
index 49a217e4e4..44947238a2 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/tools/installPods.js
+++ b/packages/cli/src/tools/installPods.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 // @flow
-import fs from 'fs-extra';
+import fs from 'fs';
 import execa from 'execa';
 import chalk from 'chalk';
 import Ora from 'ora';
@@ -17,13 +17,13 @@ async function installPods({
   loader?: typeof Ora,
 }) {
   try {
-    if (!(await fs.pathExists('ios'))) {
+    if (!fs.existsSync('ios')) {
       return;
     }
 
     process.chdir('ios');
 
-    const hasPods = await fs.pathExists('Podfile');
+    const hasPods = fs.existsSync('Podfile');
 
     if (!hasPods) {
       return;