diff --git a/extensions/positron-python/python_files/positron/positron_ipykernel/inspectors.py b/extensions/positron-python/python_files/positron/positron_ipykernel/inspectors.py
index 7ffb1a27481..d9a00ce8840 100644
--- a/extensions/positron-python/python_files/positron/positron_ipykernel/inspectors.py
+++ b/extensions/positron-python/python_files/positron/positron_ipykernel/inspectors.py
@@ -900,7 +900,8 @@ def to_plaintext(self) -> str:
 
 
 class ConnectionInspector(ObjectInspector):
-    CLASS_QNAME = ["sqlite3.Connection", "sqlalchemy.engine.base.Engine"]
+    # in older Python versions (eg 3.9) the qualname for sqlite3.Connection is just "Connection"
+    CLASS_QNAME = ["Connection", "sqlite3.Connection", "sqlalchemy.engine.base.Engine"]
 
     def has_viewer(self) -> bool:
         return True