diff --git a/spyder/plugins/projects/plugin.py b/spyder/plugins/projects/plugin.py
index 7748d6adbe0..5e298c1f5b5 100644
--- a/spyder/plugins/projects/plugin.py
+++ b/spyder/plugins/projects/plugin.py
@@ -290,6 +290,12 @@ def on_mainwindow_visible(self):
         # Open project passed on the command line or reopen last one.
         cli_options = self.get_command_line_options()
         initial_cwd = self._main.get_initial_working_directory()
+        connection_file = cli_options.connection_file
+
+        # Avoid conflicts with `--connect-to-kernel` option. See issue #23497
+        # for more information.
+        if connection_file is not None:
+            return
 
         if cli_options.project is not None:
             logger.debug('Opening project from the command line')