diff --git a/python/jupyterlab_widgets/src/manager.ts b/python/jupyterlab_widgets/src/manager.ts
index 9ee14d76fc..fec2cb3e4e 100644
--- a/python/jupyterlab_widgets/src/manager.ts
+++ b/python/jupyterlab_widgets/src/manager.ts
@@ -496,6 +496,7 @@ export class WidgetManager extends LabWidgetManager {
     { loadKernel, loadNotebook } = { loadKernel: true, loadNotebook: true }
   ): Promise<void> {
     try {
+      await this.context.sessionContext.ready;
       if (loadKernel) {
         try {
           this._kernelRestoreInProgress = true;