diff --git a/packages/core/src/sagemakerunifiedstudio/explorer/activation.ts b/packages/core/src/sagemakerunifiedstudio/explorer/activation.ts
index 2179b767ffa..b42f0e8944e 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/sagemakerunifiedstudio/explorer/activation.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/sagemakerunifiedstudio/explorer/activation.ts
@@ -113,6 +113,11 @@ export async function activate(extensionContext: vscode.ExtensionContext): Promi
             if (connection) {
                 try {
                     await smusAuthProvider.reauthenticate(connection)
+                    const projectNode = smusRootNode.getProjectSelectNode()
+                    const project = projectNode.getProject()
+                    if (!project) {
+                        await vscode.commands.executeCommand('aws.smus.switchProject')
+                    }
                     treeDataProvider.refresh()
 
                     // IAM connections handle their own success messages
diff --git a/packages/core/src/test/sagemakerunifiedstudio/explorer/activation.test.ts b/packages/core/src/test/sagemakerunifiedstudio/explorer/activation.test.ts
index c5c6932184b..61b2d097d5c 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/test/sagemakerunifiedstudio/explorer/activation.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/test/sagemakerunifiedstudio/explorer/activation.test.ts
@@ -61,7 +61,10 @@ describe('SMUS Explorer Activation', function () {
 
         mockSmusRootNode = {
             getChildren: sinon.stub().resolves([]),
-            getProjectSelectNode: sinon.stub().returns({ refreshNode: sinon.stub().resolves() }),
+            getProjectSelectNode: sinon.stub().returns({
+                getProject: sinon.stub().returns({ id: 'test-project', name: 'Test Project' }),
+                refreshNode: sinon.stub().resolves(),
+            }),
         } as any
 
         // Stub vscode APIs