diff --git a/hooks/post_gen_project.py b/hooks/post_gen_project.py
index 4526c16b..5533301a 100644
--- a/hooks/post_gen_project.py
+++ b/hooks/post_gen_project.py
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ def handle_licenses():
     with open(os.path.join("licenses", "-temporary-placeholder.txt")) as f:
         selected_title = f.readline()
 
-    with open(os.path.join(os.pardir, "licenses.json")) as f:
+    with open(os.getcwd(), 'r') as f:
         titles_dict = json.load(f)
     # access the title to filename dictionary to find the correct file
     # using a dictionary instead of looping reduces time complexity