diff --git a/cmd/wsh/cmd/wshcmd-ssh.go b/cmd/wsh/cmd/wshcmd-ssh.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4a60e5e05
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/wsh/cmd/wshcmd-ssh.go
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+// Copyright 2024, Command Line Inc.
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+package cmd
+
+import (
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+	"github.com/wavetermdev/thenextwave/pkg/waveobj"
+	"github.com/wavetermdev/thenextwave/pkg/wshrpc"
+	"github.com/wavetermdev/thenextwave/pkg/wshrpc/wshclient"
+)
+
+var sshCmd = &cobra.Command{
+	Use:     "ssh",
+	Short:   "connect this terminal to a remote host",
+	Args:    cobra.ExactArgs(1),
+	Run:     sshRun,
+	PreRunE: preRunSetupRpcClient,
+}
+
+func init() {
+	rootCmd.AddCommand(sshCmd)
+}
+
+func sshRun(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+	sshArg := args[0]
+	blockId := RpcContext.BlockId
+	if blockId == "" {
+		WriteStderr("[error] cannot determine blockid (not in JWT)\n")
+		return
+	}
+	data := wshrpc.CommandSetMetaData{
+		ORef: waveobj.MakeORef(waveobj.OType_Block, blockId),
+		Meta: map[string]any{
+			waveobj.MetaKey_Connection: sshArg,
+		},
+	}
+	err := wshclient.SetMetaCommand(RpcClient, data, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		WriteStderr("[error] setting switching connection: %v\n", err)
+		return
+	}
+	WriteStderr("switched connection to %q\n", sshArg)
+}