diff --git a/experimental/ssh/internal/server/jupyter-init.py b/experimental/ssh/internal/server/jupyter-init.py
index 3e58b2f94a..ee21e22e98 100644
--- a/experimental/ssh/internal/server/jupyter-init.py
+++ b/experimental/ssh/internal/server/jupyter-init.py
@@ -186,6 +186,16 @@ def df_html(df: DataFrame) -> str:
     html_formatter.for_type(DataFrame, df_html)
 
 
+@_log_exceptions
+def _initialize_spark_connect_session():
+    import os
+    from dbruntime.spark_connection import get_and_configure_uds_spark
+    os.environ["SPARK_REMOTE"] = "unix:///databricks/sparkconnect/grpc.sock"
+    spark = get_and_configure_uds_spark()
+    globals()["spark"] = spark
+
+
 _register_magics()
 _register_formatters()
 _register_runtime_hooks()
+_initialize_spark_connect_session()