diff --git a/train.py b/train.py
index 4a1f8958b874..24efefa98653 100644
--- a/train.py
+++ b/train.py
@@ -515,7 +515,8 @@ def main(opt, callbacks=Callbacks()):
             check_file(opt.data), check_yaml(opt.cfg), check_yaml(opt.hyp), str(opt.weights), str(opt.project)  # checks
         assert len(opt.cfg) or len(opt.weights), 'either --cfg or --weights must be specified'
         if opt.evolve:
-            opt.project = str(ROOT / 'runs/evolve')
+            if opt.project == str(ROOT / 'runs/train'):  # if default project name, rename to runs/evolve
+                opt.project = str(ROOT / 'runs/evolve')
             opt.exist_ok, opt.resume = opt.resume, False  # pass resume to exist_ok and disable resume
         opt.save_dir = str(increment_path(Path(opt.project) / opt.name, exist_ok=opt.exist_ok))