diff --git a/snapcraft/application.py b/snapcraft/application.py
index 21699afd36..75b96e65d6 100644
--- a/snapcraft/application.py
+++ b/snapcraft/application.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
 
 from .legacy_cli import _LIB_NAMES, _ORIGINAL_LIB_NAME_LOG_LEVEL
 from .parts import plugins
-from .parts.yaml_utils import extract_parse_info, get_snap_project
+from .parts.yaml_utils import extract_parse_info
 
 APP_METADATA = AppMetadata(
     name="snapcraft",
@@ -230,18 +230,6 @@ def _create_dispatcher(self) -> craft_cli.Dispatcher:
             default_command=craft_app_commands.lifecycle.PackCommand,
         )
 
-    @override
-    def _get_local_keys_path(self) -> pathlib.Path | None:
-        if self._snapcraft_yaml_path is None:
-            return None
-
-        snap_project = get_snap_project()
-        keys_dir = snap_project.assets_dir / "keys"
-        if keys_dir.is_dir():
-            return keys_dir
-
-        return None
-
 
 def create_app() -> Snapcraft:
     """Create a Snapcraft application with the proper commands."""
diff --git a/snapcraft/services/lifecycle.py b/snapcraft/services/lifecycle.py
index 715e761029..83b64875e5 100644
--- a/snapcraft/services/lifecycle.py
+++ b/snapcraft/services/lifecycle.py
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 from overrides import overrides
 
 from snapcraft import __version__, errors, models, os_release, parts, utils
+from snapcraft.parts.yaml_utils import get_snap_project
 
 
 class Lifecycle(LifecycleService):
@@ -158,6 +159,15 @@ def generate_manifest(self) -> models.Manifest:
             primed_stage_packages=sorted(primed_stage_packages),
         )
 
+    @overrides
+    def _get_local_keys_path(self) -> Path | None:
+        snap_project = get_snap_project()
+        keys_dir = snap_project.assets_dir / "keys"
+        if keys_dir.is_dir():
+            return keys_dir
+
+        return None
+
 
 def get_prime_dirs_from_project(project_info: ProjectInfo) -> dict[str | None, Path]:
     """Get a mapping of component names to prime directories from a ProjectInfo.
diff --git a/tests/unit/services/test_lifecycle.py b/tests/unit/services/test_lifecycle.py
index 96e33f8ccd..8df1dcd764 100644
--- a/tests/unit/services/test_lifecycle.py
+++ b/tests/unit/services/test_lifecycle.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 import platform
 import shutil
 import sys
+from pathlib import Path
 from unittest import mock
 
 import pytest
@@ -198,3 +199,37 @@ def test_lifecycle_prime_dirs(lifecycle_service):
     lifecycle_service.setup()
 
     assert lifecycle_service.prime_dirs == {None: lifecycle_service._work_dir / "prime"}
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("project_location", "assets_dir", "expected_keys_path"),
+    [
+        # These locations come from yaml_utils._SNAP_PROJECT_FILES
+        # snapcraft.yaml locations where the keys are expected to be in snap/keys
+        ("snapcraft.yaml", "snap", "snap/keys"),
+        ("snap/snapcraft.yaml", "snap", "snap/keys"),
+        (".snapcraft.yaml", "snap", "snap/keys"),
+        # snapcraft.yaml location where the keys are expected to be somewhere else
+        ("build-aux/snap/snapcraft.yaml", "build-aux/snap", "build-aux/snap/keys"),
+    ],
+)
+def test_local_keys_path(
+    new_dir, lifecycle_service, project_location, assets_dir, expected_keys_path
+):
+    """Check that _get_local_keys_path() is correct given the location of snapcraft.yaml."""
+    snap_dir = new_dir / Path(project_location).parent
+    snap_dir.mkdir(exist_ok=True, parents=True)
+
+    # The project file itself doesn't really matter, but must exist
+    project_yaml = snap_dir / "snapcraft.yaml"
+    project_yaml.touch()
+
+    # app = application.create_app()
+    keys_dir = Path(assets_dir) / "keys"
+
+    # If the keys dir doesn't exist the method should return None
+    assert not keys_dir.is_dir()
+    assert lifecycle_service._get_local_keys_path() is None
+
+    keys_dir.mkdir(exist_ok=True, parents=True)
+    assert lifecycle_service._get_local_keys_path() == Path(expected_keys_path)
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_application.py b/tests/unit/test_application.py
index 376612c3be..9706ba1665 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_application.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_application.py
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@
 import json
 import os
 import sys
-from pathlib import Path
 from textwrap import dedent
 
 import craft_cli
@@ -468,35 +467,3 @@ def test_run_envvar_invalid(snapcraft_yaml, base, monkeypatch):
         "'SNAPCRAFT_REMOTE_BUILD_STRATEGY'. Valid values are 'disable-fallback' and "
         "'force-fallback'"
     )
-
-
-@pytest.mark.parametrize(
-    ("project_location", "assets_dir", "expected_keys_path"),
-    [
-        # These locations come from yaml_utils._SNAP_PROJECT_FILES
-        # snapcraft.yaml locations where the keys are expected to be in snap/keys
-        ("snapcraft.yaml", "snap", "snap/keys"),
-        ("snap/snapcraft.yaml", "snap", "snap/keys"),
-        (".snapcraft.yaml", "snap", "snap/keys"),
-        # snapcraft.yaml location where the keys are expected to be somewhere else
-        ("build-aux/snap/snapcraft.yaml", "build-aux/snap", "build-aux/snap/keys"),
-    ],
-)
-def test_local_keys_path(new_dir, project_location, assets_dir, expected_keys_path):
-    """Check that _get_local_keys_path() is correct given the location of snapcraft.yaml."""
-    snap_dir = new_dir / Path(project_location).parent
-    snap_dir.mkdir(exist_ok=True, parents=True)
-
-    # The project itself doesn't really matter, but must exist
-    project_yaml = snap_dir / "snapcraft.yaml"
-    project_yaml.write_text(PARSE_INFO_PROJECT)
-
-    app = application.create_app()
-    keys_dir = Path(assets_dir) / "keys"
-
-    # If the keys dir doesn't exist the method should return None
-    assert not keys_dir.is_dir()
-    assert app._get_local_keys_path() is None
-
-    keys_dir.mkdir(exist_ok=True, parents=True)
-    assert app._get_local_keys_path() == Path(expected_keys_path)