diff --git a/components/ide/jetbrains/backend-plugin/src/main/kotlin/io/gitpod/jetbrains/remote/GitpodProjectManager.kt b/components/ide/jetbrains/backend-plugin/src/main/kotlin/io/gitpod/jetbrains/remote/GitpodProjectManager.kt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..aac3c1fdb257f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/components/ide/jetbrains/backend-plugin/src/main/kotlin/io/gitpod/jetbrains/remote/GitpodProjectManager.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2022 Gitpod GmbH. All rights reserved.
+// Licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License (AGPL).
+// See License-AGPL.txt in the project root for license information.
+
+package io.gitpod.jetbrains.remote
+
+import com.intellij.openapi.diagnostic.thisLogger
+import com.intellij.openapi.project.Project
+import com.intellij.openapi.projectRoots.ProjectJdkTable
+import com.intellij.openapi.roots.ProjectRootManager
+import com.intellij.util.application
+
+class GitpodProjectManager(
+        private val project: Project
+) {
+
+    init {
+        application.invokeLaterOnWriteThread {
+            application.runWriteAction {
+                configureSdk()
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * It is a workaround for https://youtrack.jetbrains.com/issue/GTW-88
+     */
+    private fun configureSdk() {
+        ProjectJdkTable.getInstance().preconfigure()
+        val sdk = ProjectJdkTable.getInstance().allJdks.firstOrNull() ?: return
+        val projectRootManager = ProjectRootManager.getInstance(project)
+        if (projectRootManager.projectSdk != null) {
+            return
+        }
+        projectRootManager.projectSdk = sdk
+        thisLogger().warn("gitpod: SDK was auto preconfigured: $sdk")
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/components/ide/jetbrains/backend-plugin/src/main/resources/META-INF/plugin.xml b/components/ide/jetbrains/backend-plugin/src/main/resources/META-INF/plugin.xml
index 38964a566d21ff..a2007f96130074 100644
--- a/components/ide/jetbrains/backend-plugin/src/main/resources/META-INF/plugin.xml
+++ b/components/ide/jetbrains/backend-plugin/src/main/resources/META-INF/plugin.xml
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
         <applicationService serviceImplementation="io.gitpod.jetbrains.remote.GitpodBranding"
                             serviceInterface="com.intellij.remoteDev.customization.GatewayBranding"
                             overrides="true" />
+        <projectService serviceImplementation="io.gitpod.jetbrains.remote.GitpodProjectManager" preload="true"/>
     </extensions>
 
 </idea-plugin>