diff --git a/packages/pyodide-kernel/src/worker.ts b/packages/pyodide-kernel/src/worker.ts
index 4d10062a..844eecd5 100644
--- a/packages/pyodide-kernel/src/worker.ts
+++ b/packages/pyodide-kernel/src/worker.ts
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ export class PyodideRemoteKernel {
   protected async initKernel(options: IPyodideWorkerKernel.IOptions): Promise<void> {
     // from this point forward, only use piplite (but not %pip)
     await this._pyodide.runPythonAsync(`
+      await piplite.install(['ssl'], keep_going=True);
       await piplite.install(['sqlite3'], keep_going=True);
       await piplite.install(['ipykernel'], keep_going=True);
       await piplite.install(['comm'], keep_going=True);