diff --git a/conftest.py b/conftest.py
index 5c584923..8de56f21 100644
--- a/conftest.py
+++ b/conftest.py
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ def jp_scheduler(jp_scheduler_db_url, jp_scheduler_root_dir, jp_scheduler_db):
         db_url=jp_scheduler_db_url,
         root_dir=str(jp_scheduler_root_dir),
         environments_manager=MockEnvironmentManager(),
+        update_last_activity=lambda: True,
     )
 
 
diff --git a/jupyter_scheduler/extension.py b/jupyter_scheduler/extension.py
index 1a4ba373..4a36f792 100644
--- a/jupyter_scheduler/extension.py
+++ b/jupyter_scheduler/extension.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import asyncio
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
 
 from jupyter_core.paths import jupyter_data_dir
 from jupyter_server.extension.application import ExtensionApp
@@ -78,6 +79,7 @@ def initialize_settings(self):
             environments_manager=environments_manager,
             db_url=self.db_url,
             config=self.config,
+            update_last_activity=self._update_last_activity,
         )
 
         job_files_manager = self.job_files_manager_class(scheduler=scheduler)
@@ -91,3 +93,15 @@ def initialize_settings(self):
         if scheduler.task_runner:
             loop = asyncio.get_event_loop()
             loop.create_task(scheduler.task_runner.start())
+
+        self._update_last_activity()
+
+    def _update_last_activity(self):
+        """Update last activity in the web application
+
+        Updates the `last_acitivity_times` dict in the web application. When running with jupyterhub, this prevents
+        the culler from thinking the server is idle.
+        """
+        self.serverapp.web_app.settings["last_activity_times"]["jupyter_scheduler"] = datetime.now(
+            timezone.utc
+        )
diff --git a/jupyter_scheduler/scheduler.py b/jupyter_scheduler/scheduler.py
index 867034c6..6b90f29d 100644
--- a/jupyter_scheduler/scheduler.py
+++ b/jupyter_scheduler/scheduler.py
@@ -96,11 +96,17 @@ def _default_staging_path(self):
     )
 
     def __init__(
-        self, root_dir: str, environments_manager: Type[EnvironmentManager], config=None, **kwargs
+        self,
+        root_dir: str,
+        environments_manager: Type[EnvironmentManager],
+        config=None,
+        update_last_activity=None,
+        **kwargs,
     ):
         super().__init__(config=config, **kwargs)
         self.root_dir = root_dir
         self.environments_manager = environments_manager
+        self.update_last_activity = update_last_activity
 
     def create_job(self, model: CreateJob) -> str:
         """Creates a new job record, may trigger execution of the job.
@@ -405,10 +411,15 @@ def __init__(
         environments_manager: Type[EnvironmentManager],
         db_url: str,
         config=None,
+        update_last_activity=None,
         **kwargs,
     ):
         super().__init__(
-            root_dir=root_dir, environments_manager=environments_manager, config=config, **kwargs
+            root_dir=root_dir,
+            environments_manager=environments_manager,
+            config=config,
+            update_last_activity=update_last_activity,
+            **kwargs,
         )
         self.db_url = db_url
         if self.task_runner_class:
@@ -438,6 +449,7 @@ def copy_input_folder(self, input_uri: str, nb_copy_to_path: str) -> List[str]:
         )
 
     def create_job(self, model: CreateJob) -> str:
+        self.update_last_activity()
         if not model.job_definition_id and not self.file_exists(model.input_uri):
             raise InputUriError(model.input_uri)