diff --git a/rse/plugins/org.eclipse.rse.services.ssh/src/org/eclipse/rse/services/ssh/shell/SshHostShell.java b/rse/plugins/org.eclipse.rse.services.ssh/src/org/eclipse/rse/services/ssh/shell/SshHostShell.java
index fa4f9d048d3..bb3e45ba8a1 100644
--- a/rse/plugins/org.eclipse.rse.services.ssh/src/org/eclipse/rse/services/ssh/shell/SshHostShell.java
+++ b/rse/plugins/org.eclipse.rse.services.ssh/src/org/eclipse/rse/services/ssh/shell/SshHostShell.java
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ public class SshHostShell extends AbstractHostShell {
 			fStdinHandler = new PrintWriter(fChannel.getOutputStream());
 
 		    fChannel.connect();
+		    writeToShell("cd "+initialWorkingDirectory);
 		} catch(Exception e) {
 			//TODO Forward exception to RSE properly
 			e.printStackTrace();