diff --git a/fish/functions/start_ssh_agent.fish b/fish/functions/start_ssh_agent.fish
index cb8d0b17..b47df705 100644
--- a/fish/functions/start_ssh_agent.fish
+++ b/fish/functions/start_ssh_agent.fish
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@ function start_ssh_agent -d "Launch an ssh agent only if it has not already been
                 set force true
         end
     end
+    if in_nspawn
+        set force true
+    end
     if not set -q force
         status is-interactive; or return 0
     end