diff --git a/packages/core/src/generators/init/generator.spec.ts b/packages/core/src/generators/init/generator.spec.ts
index 4e677546..c8c24d1d 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/generators/init/generator.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/generators/init/generator.spec.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { readJson, Tree } from '@nrwl/devkit';
+import { readJson, Tree, writeJson } from '@nrwl/devkit';
 import { createTreeWithEmptyWorkspace } from '@nrwl/devkit/testing';
 import { DotNetClient, mockDotnetFactory } from '@nx-dotnet/dotnet';
 
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@ describe('init generator', () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     appTree = createTreeWithEmptyWorkspace();
     dotnetClient = new DotNetClient(mockDotnetFactory());
+
+    const packageJson = { scripts: {} };
+    writeJson(appTree, 'package.json', packageJson);
   });
 
   it('should create config', async () => {
@@ -46,4 +49,20 @@ describe('init generator', () => {
     await generator(appTree, dotnetClient);
     expect(spy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
+
+  it('should add restore to prepare script', async () => {
+    await generator(appTree, dotnetClient);
+    const updated = readJson(appTree, 'package.json');
+    expect(updated.scripts.prepare).toBe('nx g @nx-dotnet/core:restore');
+  });
+
+  it('should not add restore if it already exists', async () => {
+    const packageJson = {
+      scripts: { prepare: 'nx g @nx-dotnet/core:restore' },
+    };
+    writeJson(appTree, 'package.json', packageJson);
+    await generator(appTree, dotnetClient);
+    const updated = readJson(appTree, 'package.json');
+    expect(updated.scripts.prepare).toBe('nx g @nx-dotnet/core:restore');
+  });
 });
diff --git a/packages/core/src/generators/init/generator.ts b/packages/core/src/generators/init/generator.ts
index 9681d654..921ad382 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/generators/init/generator.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/generators/init/generator.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import {
   readJson,
   readWorkspaceConfiguration,
   Tree,
+  updateWorkspaceConfiguration,
   WorkspaceConfiguration,
   writeJson,
 } from '@nrwl/devkit';
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@ export default async function (
   }
 
   initToolManifest(host, dotnetClient);
+  addPrepareScript(host);
 }
 
 function updateGitIgnore(
@@ -73,3 +75,17 @@ function initToolManifest(host: Tree, dotnetClient: DotNetClient) {
     dotnetClient.new('tool-manifest');
   }
 }
+
+function addPrepareScript(host: Tree) {
+  const packageJson = readJson(host, 'package.json');
+  const prepareSteps: string[] =
+    packageJson.scripts.prepare?.split('&&').map((x: string) => x.trim()) ?? [];
+
+  const restoreScript = 'nx g @nx-dotnet/core:restore';
+  if (!prepareSteps.includes(restoreScript)) {
+    prepareSteps.push(restoreScript);
+  }
+
+  packageJson.scripts.prepare = prepareSteps.join(' && ');
+  writeJson(host, 'package.json', packageJson);
+}
diff --git a/packages/core/src/generators/utils/generate-project.spec.ts b/packages/core/src/generators/utils/generate-project.spec.ts
index e28566d0..b358d795 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/generators/utils/generate-project.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/generators/utils/generate-project.spec.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { readProjectConfiguration, Tree } from '@nrwl/devkit';
+import { readProjectConfiguration, Tree, writeJson } from '@nrwl/devkit';
 import { createTreeWithEmptyWorkspace } from '@nrwl/devkit/testing';
 
 import { readFileSync } from 'fs';
@@ -30,6 +30,9 @@ describe('nx-dotnet project generator', () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     appTree = createTreeWithEmptyWorkspace();
     dotnetClient = new DotNetClient(mockDotnetFactory());
+
+    const packageJson = { scripts: {} };
+    writeJson(appTree, 'package.json', packageJson);
   });
 
   afterEach(async () => {