diff --git a/rse/plugins/org.eclipse.rse.subsystems.shells.ssh/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF b/rse/plugins/org.eclipse.rse.subsystems.shells.ssh/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF
index 2c70ca23f1c..ea2affa97ab 100644
--- a/rse/plugins/org.eclipse.rse.subsystems.shells.ssh/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF
+++ b/rse/plugins/org.eclipse.rse.subsystems.shells.ssh/META-INF/MANIFEST.MF
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ Require-Bundle: org.eclipse.ui,
  org.eclipse.rse.connectorservice.ssh,
  org.eclipse.rse.services.ssh,
  org.eclipse.rse.subsystems.shells.core,
+ org.eclipse.rse.shells.ui,
  org.eclipse.rse.ui
 Eclipse-LazyStart: true
 Export-Package: org.eclipse.rse.subsystems.shells.ssh
diff --git a/rse/plugins/org.eclipse.rse.subsystems.shells.ssh/src/org/eclipse/rse/subsystems/shells/ssh/Activator.java b/rse/plugins/org.eclipse.rse.subsystems.shells.ssh/src/org/eclipse/rse/subsystems/shells/ssh/Activator.java
index fe10bfb5c70..69a4091d637 100644
--- a/rse/plugins/org.eclipse.rse.subsystems.shells.ssh/src/org/eclipse/rse/subsystems/shells/ssh/Activator.java
+++ b/rse/plugins/org.eclipse.rse.subsystems.shells.ssh/src/org/eclipse/rse/subsystems/shells/ssh/Activator.java
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@ public class Activator extends AbstractUIPlugin {
 	 */
 	public void start(BundleContext context) throws Exception {
 		super.start(context);
+
+		// shells ui needs to be started for proper UI init
+		org.eclipse.rse.shells.ui.Activator.getDefault();
 	}
 
 	/*