diff --git a/jupyter_server/services/sessions/sessionmanager.py b/jupyter_server/services/sessions/sessionmanager.py
index 51489116a0..a8e2347525 100644
--- a/jupyter_server/services/sessions/sessionmanager.py
+++ b/jupyter_server/services/sessions/sessionmanager.py
@@ -272,7 +272,9 @@ async def start_kernel_for_session(self, session_id, path, name, type, kernel_na
         # allow contents manager to specify kernels cwd
         kernel_path = self.contents_manager.get_kernel_path(path=path)
         kernel_id = await self.kernel_manager.start_kernel(
-            path=kernel_path, kernel_name=kernel_name
+            path=kernel_path,
+            kernel_name=kernel_name,
+            env={"JPY_SESSION_NAME": path},
         )
         return kernel_id