diff --git a/src/flask_sqlalchemy/cli.py b/src/flask_sqlalchemy/cli.py
index d7d7e4be..9f13a280 100644
--- a/src/flask_sqlalchemy/cli.py
+++ b/src/flask_sqlalchemy/cli.py
@@ -2,15 +2,17 @@
 
 import typing as t
 
+import sqlalchemy as sa
 from flask import current_app
 
 
 def add_models_to_shell() -> dict[str, t.Any]:
     """Registered with :meth:`~flask.Flask.shell_context_processor` if
     ``add_models_to_shell`` is enabled. Adds the ``db`` instance and all model classes
-    to ``flask shell``.
+    to ``flask shell``. Adds the ``sqlalchemy`` namespace as ``sa`` to ``flask shell``.
     """
     db = current_app.extensions["sqlalchemy"]
     out = {m.class_.__name__: m.class_ for m in db.Model._sa_registry.mappers}
+    out["sa"] = sa
     out["db"] = db
     return out
diff --git a/tests/test_cli.py b/tests/test_cli.py
index 91672733..8d2f16ca 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -11,5 +11,6 @@
 @pytest.mark.usefixtures("app_ctx")
 def test_shell_context(db: SQLAlchemy, Todo: t.Any) -> None:
     context = add_models_to_shell()
+    assert "sa" in context
     assert context["db"] is db
     assert context["Todo"] is Todo