diff --git a/packages/jumpstarter-cli/jumpstarter_cli/shell.py b/packages/jumpstarter-cli/jumpstarter_cli/shell.py
index c37e2a765..43eb1a600 100644
--- a/packages/jumpstarter-cli/jumpstarter_cli/shell.py
+++ b/packages/jumpstarter-cli/jumpstarter_cli/shell.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 
 @click.command("shell")
 @opt_config()
+@click.argument("command", nargs=-1)
 # client specific
 # TODO: warn if these are specified with exporter config
 @click.option("--lease", "lease_name")
@@ -19,9 +20,17 @@
 @opt_duration_partial(default=timedelta(minutes=30), show_default="00:30:00")
 # end client specific
 @handle_exceptions
-def shell(config, lease_name, selector, duration):
+def shell(config, command: tuple[str, ...], lease_name, selector, duration):
     """
-    Spawns a shell connecting to a local or remote exporter
+    Spawns a shell (or custom command) connecting to a local or remote exporter
+
+    COMMAND is the custom command to run instead of shell.
+
+    Example:
+
+    .. code-block:: bash
+
+        $ jmp shell --exporter foo -- python bar.py
     """
 
     match config:
@@ -31,11 +40,23 @@ def shell(config, lease_name, selector, duration):
             with config.lease(selector=selector, lease_name=lease_name, duration=duration) as lease:
                 with lease.serve_unix() as path:
                     with lease.monitor():
-                        exit_code = launch_shell(path, "remote", config.drivers.allow, config.drivers.unsafe)
+                        exit_code = launch_shell(
+                            path,
+                            "remote",
+                            config.drivers.allow,
+                            config.drivers.unsafe,
+                            command=command,
+                        )
 
             sys.exit(exit_code)
 
         case ExporterConfigV1Alpha1():
             with config.serve_unix() as path:
                 # SAFETY: the exporter config is local thus considered trusted
-                launch_shell(path, "local", allow=[], unsafe=True)
+                launch_shell(
+                    path,
+                    "local",
+                    allow=[],
+                    unsafe=True,
+                    command=command,
+                )
diff --git a/packages/jumpstarter/jumpstarter/common/utils.py b/packages/jumpstarter/jumpstarter/common/utils.py
index 832dce4e3..6984e78ac 100644
--- a/packages/jumpstarter/jumpstarter/common/utils.py
+++ b/packages/jumpstarter/jumpstarter/common/utils.py
@@ -80,7 +80,14 @@ def env():
 PROMPT_CWD = "\\W"
 
 
-def launch_shell(host: str, context: str, allow: list[str], unsafe: bool) -> int:
+def launch_shell(
+    host: str,
+    context: str,
+    allow: [str],
+    unsafe: bool,
+    *,
+    command: tuple[str, ...] | None = None,
+) -> int:
     """Launch a shell with a custom prompt indicating the exporter type.
 
     Args:
@@ -89,21 +96,21 @@ def launch_shell(host: str, context: str, allow: list[str], unsafe: bool) -> int
         allow: List of allowed drivers
         unsafe: Whether to allow drivers outside of the allow list
     """
-    cmd = [os.environ.get("SHELL", "bash")]
-    if cmd[0].endswith("bash"):
-        cmd.append("--norc")
-        cmd.append("--noprofile")
-
-    process = Popen(
-        cmd,
-        stdin=sys.stdin,
-        stdout=sys.stdout,
-        stderr=sys.stderr,
-        env=os.environ
-        | {
-            JUMPSTARTER_HOST: host,
-            JMP_DRIVERS_ALLOW: "UNSAFE" if unsafe else ",".join(allow),
-            "PS1": f"{ANSI_GRAY}{PROMPT_CWD} {ANSI_YELLOW}⚡{ANSI_WHITE}{context} {ANSI_YELLOW}➤{ANSI_RESET} ",
-        },
-    )
+
+    env = os.environ | {
+        JUMPSTARTER_HOST: host,
+        JMP_DRIVERS_ALLOW: "UNSAFE" if unsafe else ",".join(allow),
+        "PS1": f"{ANSI_GRAY}{PROMPT_CWD} {ANSI_YELLOW}⚡{ANSI_WHITE}{context} {ANSI_YELLOW}➤{ANSI_RESET} ",
+    }
+
+    if command:
+        process = Popen(command, stdin=sys.stdin, stdout=sys.stdout, stderr=sys.stderr, env=env)
+    else:
+        cmd = [os.environ.get("SHELL", "bash")]
+        if cmd[0].endswith("bash"):
+            cmd.append("--norc")
+            cmd.append("--noprofile")
+
+        process = Popen(cmd, stdin=sys.stdin, stdout=sys.stdout, stderr=sys.stderr, env=env)
+
     return process.wait()