diff --git a/ra_aid/project_state.py b/ra_aid/project_state.py
index 05f576a..d8e3121 100644
--- a/ra_aid/project_state.py
+++ b/ra_aid/project_state.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ def is_new_project(directory: str) -> bool:
 
     A project is considered new if it either:
     - Is an empty directory
-    - Contains only .git directory and/or .gitignore file
+    - Contains only .git directory, .gitignore file, and/or .ra-aid directory
 
     Args:
         directory: String path to the directory to check
@@ -49,8 +49,8 @@ def is_new_project(directory: str) -> bool:
         if not path.is_dir():
             raise DirectoryNotFoundError(f"Path is not a directory: {directory}")
 
-        # Get all files/dirs in the directory, excluding contents of .git
-        _allowed_items: Set[str] = {".git", ".gitignore"}
+        # Get all files/dirs in the directory, excluding allowed items
+        _allowed_items: Set[str] = {".git", ".gitignore", ".ra-aid"}
         try:
             contents = set()
             for item in path.iterdir():
@@ -60,8 +60,8 @@ def is_new_project(directory: str) -> bool:
         except PermissionError as e:
             raise DirectoryAccessError(f"Cannot access directory {directory}: {e}")
 
-        # Directory is new if empty or only contains .gitignore
-        return len(contents) == 0 or contents.issubset({".gitignore"})
+        # Directory is new if empty or only contains allowed items
+        return len(contents) == 0 or contents.issubset(_allowed_items)
 
     except Exception as e:
         if isinstance(e, ProjectStateError):
diff --git a/ra_aid/prompts.py b/ra_aid/prompts.py
index 9a88aed..368ddc3 100644
--- a/ra_aid/prompts.py
+++ b/ra_aid/prompts.py
@@ -439,9 +439,6 @@ Guidelines:
     
     Are you writing a program that needs to be compiled? Make sure it compiles, if relevant.
 
-    After finalizing the overall approach:
-        Use emit_plan to store the high-level implementation plan.
-
     Once you are absolutely sure you are completed planning, you may begin to call request_task_implementation one-by-one for each task to implement the plan.
     If you have any doubt about the correctness or thoroughness of the plan, consult the expert (if expert is available) for verification.
 
@@ -455,6 +452,8 @@ You have often been criticized for:
   - Asking the user if they want to implement the plan (you are an *autonomous* agent, with no user interaction unless you use the ask_human tool explicitly).
   - Not calling tools/functions properly, e.g. leaving off required arguments, calling a tool in a loop, calling tools inappropriately.
 
+DO NOT WRITE ANY FILES YET. CODE WILL BE WRITTEN AS YOU CALL request_task_implementation.
+
 NEVER ANNOUNCE WHAT YOU ARE DOING, JUST DO IT!
 """
 
diff --git a/tests/test_project_state.py b/tests/test_project_state.py
index 1cb41af..a9af690 100644
--- a/tests/test_project_state.py
+++ b/tests/test_project_state.py
@@ -28,6 +28,26 @@ def git_only_dir(tmp_path):
     return tmp_path
 
 
+@pytest.fixture
+def ra_aid_only_dir(tmp_path):
+    """Create a directory with only a .ra-aid directory."""
+    ra_aid_dir = tmp_path / ".ra-aid"
+    ra_aid_dir.mkdir()
+    return tmp_path
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def mixed_allowed_dir(tmp_path):
+    """Create a directory with all allowed items (.git, .gitignore, and .ra-aid)."""
+    git_dir = tmp_path / ".git"
+    git_dir.mkdir()
+    gitignore = tmp_path / ".gitignore"
+    gitignore.write_text("*.pyc\n")
+    ra_aid_dir = tmp_path / ".ra-aid"
+    ra_aid_dir.mkdir()
+    return tmp_path
+
+
 @pytest.fixture
 def project_dir(tmp_path):
     """Create a directory with some project files."""
@@ -46,6 +66,16 @@ def test_git_only_directory(git_only_dir):
     assert is_new_project(str(git_only_dir)) is True
 
 
+def test_ra_aid_only_directory(ra_aid_only_dir):
+    """Test that a directory with only a .ra-aid directory is considered a new project."""
+    assert is_new_project(str(ra_aid_only_dir)) is True
+
+
+def test_mixed_allowed_directory(mixed_allowed_dir):
+    """Test that a directory with all allowed items is considered a new project."""
+    assert is_new_project(str(mixed_allowed_dir)) is True
+
+
 @pytest.fixture
 def git_dir_with_contents(tmp_path):
     """Create a directory with .git containing files and .gitignore."""
@@ -98,3 +128,23 @@ def test_permission_error(tmp_path):
     finally:
         # Restore permissions to allow cleanup
         os.chmod(tmp_path, 0o755)
+
+
+def test_verify_fix(tmp_path):
+    """
+    Verify fix: a project with only .ra-aid directory is considered new,
+    but adding other files makes it recognized as an existing project.
+    """
+    # Create a .ra-aid directory inside the temporary directory
+    ra_aid_dir = tmp_path / ".ra-aid"
+    ra_aid_dir.mkdir()
+    
+    # Check that is_new_project() returns True (only .ra-aid directory)
+    assert is_new_project(str(tmp_path)) is True
+    
+    # Add a README.md file to the directory
+    readme_file = tmp_path / "README.md"
+    readme_file.write_text("# Test Project")
+    
+    # Check that is_new_project() now returns False (has actual content)
+    assert is_new_project(str(tmp_path)) is False
\ No newline at end of file