diff --git a/py/pysparkling/context.py b/py/pysparkling/context.py
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/py/pysparkling/context.py
+++ b/py/pysparkling/context.py
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ class H2OContext(object):
         h2o_context._client_ip = jhc.h2oLocalClientIp()
         h2o_context._client_port = jhc.h2oLocalClientPort()
         # Create H2O REST API client
-        h2o.init(ip=h2o_context._client_ip, port=h2o_context._client_port, start_h2o=False, strict_version_check=False)
+        h2o.connect(ip=h2o_context._client_ip, port=h2o_context._client_port)
         h2o_context.is_initialized = True
         return h2o_context
[SW-<I>] Use h2o.connect instead of h2o.init (#<I>)