diff --git a/packages/notebook/src/browser/service/notebook-context-manager.ts b/packages/notebook/src/browser/service/notebook-context-manager.ts
index 9216285c303e4..934c57e07d8f9 100644
--- a/packages/notebook/src/browser/service/notebook-context-manager.ts
+++ b/packages/notebook/src/browser/service/notebook-context-manager.ts
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ export class NotebookContextManager {
 
         // Cell Selection related keys
         this.scopedStore.setContext(NOTEBOOK_CELL_FOCUSED, !!widget.model?.selectedCell);
+        this.selectedCellChanged(widget.model?.selectedCell);
         widget.model?.onDidChangeSelectedCell(e => {
             this.selectedCellChanged(e.cell);
             this.scopedStore.setContext(NOTEBOOK_CELL_FOCUSED, !!e);