diff --git a/src/sagemaker/estimator.py b/src/sagemaker/estimator.py
index 859a08ceec..5bf699beea 100644
--- a/src/sagemaker/estimator.py
+++ b/src/sagemaker/estimator.py
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ def __init__(self, role, train_instance_count, train_instance_type,
             if self.train_instance_type == 'local_gpu' and self.train_instance_count > 1:
                 raise RuntimeError("Distributed Training in Local GPU is not supported")
 
-            self.sagemaker_session = LocalSession()
+            self.sagemaker_session = sagemaker_session or LocalSession()
         else:
             self.local_mode = False
             self.sagemaker_session = sagemaker_session or Session()