diff --git a/shell/ssh/src/main/java/org/apache/karaf/shell/ssh/Activator.java b/shell/ssh/src/main/java/org/apache/karaf/shell/ssh/Activator.java
index 31e5fab..f503879 100644
--- a/shell/ssh/src/main/java/org/apache/karaf/shell/ssh/Activator.java
+++ b/shell/ssh/src/main/java/org/apache/karaf/shell/ssh/Activator.java
@@ -116,10 +116,15 @@
         if (server == null) {
             return; // can result from bad specification.
         }
+        
+        ClassLoader oldTCCL = Thread.currentThread().getContextClassLoader();
         try {
+        	Thread.currentThread().setContextClassLoader(SshServer.class.getClassLoader());
             server.start();
-        } catch (IOException e) {
+        } catch (Exception e) {
             LOGGER.warn("Exception caught while starting SSH server", e);
+        } finally {
+        	Thread.currentThread().setContextClassLoader(oldTCCL);
         }
     }