diff --git a/rsconnect/main.py b/rsconnect/main.py
index 40b4f373..620e2063 100644
--- a/rsconnect/main.py
+++ b/rsconnect/main.py
@@ -4838,11 +4838,10 @@ def _write_framework_manifest(
         if exists(manifest_path) and not overwrite:
             raise RSConnectException("manifest.json already exists. Use --overwrite to overwrite.")
 
-    resolved_requirements_file = resolve_requirements_file(directory, requirements_file, False)
     with cli_feedback("Inspecting Python environment"):
         environment = Environment.create_python_environment(
             directory,
-            requirements_file=resolved_requirements_file,
+            requirements_file=requirements_file,
             override_python_version=override_python_version,
             python=python,
         )
@@ -4866,7 +4865,7 @@ def _write_framework_manifest(
             r_environment,
         )
 
-    generate_env = resolved_requirements_file is None
+    generate_env = requirements_file is None
     if environment_file_exists and not generate_env:
         click.secho(
             "    Warning: %s already exists and will not be overwritten." % environment.filename,
diff --git a/tests/test_main.py b/tests/test_main.py
index 5c47bf61..94a59c2f 100644
--- a/tests/test_main.py
+++ b/tests/test_main.py
@@ -2153,6 +2153,36 @@ def test_no_package_json(self, tmp_path):
         assert "package.json" in result.output
 
 
+class TestWriteManifestFramework:
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize("existing_requirements", [False, True])
+    def test_force_generate_requirements(self, tmp_path, existing_requirements):
+        (tmp_path / "app.py").write_text("app = object()\n")
+        requirements = tmp_path / "requirements.txt"
+        if existing_requirements:
+            requirements.write_text("old-package==1.0\n")
+
+        runner = CliRunner()
+        result = runner.invoke(cli, ["write-manifest", "api", "-g", str(tmp_path)])
+        assert result.exit_code == 0, result.output
+
+        manifest = json.loads((tmp_path / "manifest.json").read_text())
+        assert requirements.read_text().startswith("# requirements.txt generated by rsconnect-python")
+        assert manifest["files"]["requirements.txt"]["checksum"] == file_checksum(requirements)
+
+    def test_explicit_requirements_file(self, tmp_path):
+        (tmp_path / "app.py").write_text("app = object()\n")
+        requirements = tmp_path / "custom-requirements.txt"
+        requirements.write_text("example-package==1.0\n")
+
+        runner = CliRunner()
+        result = runner.invoke(cli, ["write-manifest", "api", "-r", requirements.name, str(tmp_path)])
+        assert result.exit_code == 0, result.output
+
+        manifest = json.loads((tmp_path / "manifest.json").read_text())
+        assert requirements.read_text() == "example-package==1.0\n"
+        assert manifest["files"][requirements.name]["checksum"] == file_checksum(requirements)
+
+
 class TestWriteManifestExcludeRenv:
     def test_exclude_renv_omits_r_dependencies(self, tmp_path):
         # A valid renv.lock is present but --exclude-renv must keep R dependencies