diff --git a/google/cloud/spanner/CMakeLists.txt b/google/cloud/spanner/CMakeLists.txt
index aefd54430f93d..a80fdcf01525c 100644
--- a/google/cloud/spanner/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/google/cloud/spanner/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -162,6 +162,7 @@ add_library(
     internal/range_from_pagination.h
     internal/retry_loop.cc
     internal/retry_loop.h
+    internal/session.cc
     internal/session.h
     internal/session_pool.cc
     internal/session_pool.h
diff --git a/google/cloud/spanner/internal/connection_impl.cc b/google/cloud/spanner/internal/connection_impl.cc
index 04d5addae8d3d..dfb6f5fb66244 100644
--- a/google/cloud/spanner/internal/connection_impl.cc
+++ b/google/cloud/spanner/internal/connection_impl.cc
@@ -106,11 +106,10 @@ ConnectionImpl::ConnectionImpl(Database db, std::shared_ptr<SpannerStub> stub,
                                std::unique_ptr<RetryPolicy> retry_policy,
                                std::unique_ptr<BackoffPolicy> backoff_policy)
     : db_(std::move(db)),
-      stub_(std::move(stub)),
       retry_policy_prototype_(std::move(retry_policy)),
       backoff_policy_prototype_(std::move(backoff_policy)),
       session_pool_(std::make_shared<SessionPool>(
-          db_, stub_, retry_policy_prototype_->clone(),
+          db_, std::move(stub), retry_policy_prototype_->clone(),
           backoff_policy_prototype_->clone())) {}
 
 RowStream ConnectionImpl::Read(ReadParams params) {
@@ -328,10 +327,9 @@ RowStream ConnectionImpl::ReadImpl(SessionHolder& session,
     request.set_partition_token(*std::move(params.partition_token));
   }
 
-  auto const& stub = stub_;
   // Capture a copy of `stub` to ensure the `shared_ptr<>` remains valid through
-  // the lifetime of the lambda. Note that the local variable `stub` is a
-  // reference to avoid increasing refcounts twice, but the capture is by value.
+  // the lifetime of the lambda.
+  auto stub = session_pool_->GetStub(*session);
   auto factory = [stub, request](std::string const& resume_token) mutable {
     request.set_resume_token(resume_token);
     auto context = google::cloud::internal::make_unique<grpc::ClientContext>();
@@ -379,12 +377,13 @@ StatusOr<std::vector<ReadPartition>> ConnectionImpl::PartitionReadImpl(
   *request.mutable_key_set() = internal::ToProto(params.keys);
   *request.mutable_partition_options() = internal::ToProto(partition_options);
 
+  auto stub = session_pool_->GetStub(*session);
   auto response = internal::RetryLoop(
       retry_policy_prototype_->clone(), backoff_policy_prototype_->clone(),
       true,
-      [this](grpc::ClientContext& context,
-             spanner_proto::PartitionReadRequest const& request) {
-        return stub_->PartitionRead(context, request);
+      [&stub](grpc::ClientContext& context,
+              spanner_proto::PartitionReadRequest const& request) {
+        return stub->PartitionRead(context, request);
       },
       request, __func__);
   if (!response.ok()) {
@@ -452,11 +451,10 @@ ResultType ConnectionImpl::CommonQueryImpl(
   if (!prepare_status.ok()) {
     return MakeStatusOnlyResult<ResultType>(std::move(prepare_status));
   }
-  // Capture a copy of of these member variables to ensure the `shared_ptr<>`
-  // remains valid through the lifetime of the lambda. Note that the local
-  // variables are a reference to avoid increasing refcounts twice, but the
-  // capture is by value.
-  auto const& stub = stub_;
+  // Capture a copy of of these to ensure the `shared_ptr<>` remains valid
+  // through the lifetime of the lambda. Note that the local variables are a
+  // reference to avoid increasing refcounts twice, but the capture is by value.
+  auto stub = session_pool_->GetStub(*session);
   auto const& retry_policy = retry_policy_prototype_;
   auto const& backoff_policy = backoff_policy_prototype_;
 
@@ -512,11 +510,10 @@ StatusOr<ResultType> ConnectionImpl::CommonDmlImpl(
   if (!prepare_status.ok()) {
     return prepare_status;
   }
-  // Capture a copy of of these member variables to ensure the `shared_ptr<>`
-  // remains valid through the lifetime of the lambda. Note that the local
-  // variables are a reference to avoid increasing refcounts twice, but the
-  // capture is by value.
-  auto const& stub = stub_;
+  // Capture a copy of of these to ensure the `shared_ptr<>` remains valid
+  // through the lifetime of the lambda. Note that the local variables are a
+  // reference to avoid increasing refcounts twice, but the capture is by value.
+  auto stub = session_pool_->GetStub(*session);
   auto const& retry_policy = retry_policy_prototype_;
   auto const& backoff_policy = backoff_policy_prototype_;
 
@@ -586,12 +583,13 @@ StatusOr<std::vector<QueryPartition>> ConnectionImpl::PartitionQueryImpl(
       std::move(*sql_statement.mutable_param_types());
   *request.mutable_partition_options() = internal::ToProto(partition_options);
 
+  auto stub = session_pool_->GetStub(*session);
   auto response = internal::RetryLoop(
       retry_policy_prototype_->clone(), backoff_policy_prototype_->clone(),
       true,
-      [this](grpc::ClientContext& context,
-             spanner_proto::PartitionQueryRequest const& request) {
-        return stub_->PartitionQuery(context, request);
+      [&stub](grpc::ClientContext& context,
+              spanner_proto::PartitionQueryRequest const& request) {
+        return stub->PartitionQuery(context, request);
       },
       request, __func__);
   if (!response.ok()) {
@@ -628,12 +626,13 @@ StatusOr<BatchDmlResult> ConnectionImpl::ExecuteBatchDmlImpl(
     *request.add_statements() = internal::ToProto(std::move(sql));
   }
 
+  auto stub = session_pool_->GetStub(*session);
   auto response = internal::RetryLoop(
       retry_policy_prototype_->clone(), backoff_policy_prototype_->clone(),
       true,
-      [this](grpc::ClientContext& context,
-             spanner_proto::ExecuteBatchDmlRequest const& request) {
-        return stub_->ExecuteBatchDml(context, request);
+      [&stub](grpc::ClientContext& context,
+              spanner_proto::ExecuteBatchDmlRequest const& request) {
+        return stub->ExecuteBatchDml(context, request);
       },
       request, __func__);
   if (!response) {
@@ -665,12 +664,13 @@ StatusOr<PartitionedDmlResult> ConnectionImpl::ExecutePartitionedDmlImpl(
   begin_request.set_session(session->session_name());
   *begin_request.mutable_options()->mutable_partitioned_dml() =
       spanner_proto::TransactionOptions_PartitionedDml();
+  auto stub = session_pool_->GetStub(*session);
   auto begin_response = internal::RetryLoop(
       retry_policy_prototype_->clone(), backoff_policy_prototype_->clone(),
       true,
-      [this](grpc::ClientContext& context,
-             spanner_proto::BeginTransactionRequest const& request) {
-        return stub_->BeginTransaction(context, request);
+      [&stub](grpc::ClientContext& context,
+              spanner_proto::BeginTransactionRequest const& request) {
+        return stub->BeginTransaction(context, request);
       },
       begin_request, __func__);
   if (!begin_response) {
@@ -690,9 +690,9 @@ StatusOr<PartitionedDmlResult> ConnectionImpl::ExecutePartitionedDmlImpl(
   auto response = internal::RetryLoop(
       retry_policy_prototype_->clone(), backoff_policy_prototype_->clone(),
       true,
-      [this](grpc::ClientContext& context,
-             spanner_proto::ExecuteSqlRequest const& request) {
-        return stub_->ExecuteSql(context, request);
+      [&stub](grpc::ClientContext& context,
+              spanner_proto::ExecuteSqlRequest const& request) {
+        return stub->ExecuteSql(context, request);
       },
       request, __func__);
   if (!response) {
@@ -729,12 +729,13 @@ StatusOr<CommitResult> ConnectionImpl::CommitImpl(
     is_idempotent = true;
   }
 
+  auto stub = session_pool_->GetStub(*session);
   auto response = internal::RetryLoop(
       retry_policy_prototype_->clone(), backoff_policy_prototype_->clone(),
       is_idempotent,
-      [this](grpc::ClientContext& context,
-             spanner_proto::CommitRequest const& request) {
-        return stub_->Commit(context, request);
+      [&stub](grpc::ClientContext& context,
+              spanner_proto::CommitRequest const& request) {
+        return stub->Commit(context, request);
       },
       request, __func__);
   if (!response) {
@@ -764,12 +765,13 @@ Status ConnectionImpl::RollbackImpl(SessionHolder& session,
   spanner_proto::RollbackRequest request;
   request.set_session(session->session_name());
   request.set_transaction_id(s.id());
+  auto stub = session_pool_->GetStub(*session);
   return internal::RetryLoop(
       retry_policy_prototype_->clone(), backoff_policy_prototype_->clone(),
       true,
-      [this](grpc::ClientContext& context,
-             spanner_proto::RollbackRequest const& request) {
-        return stub_->Rollback(context, request);
+      [&stub](grpc::ClientContext& context,
+              spanner_proto::RollbackRequest const& request) {
+        return stub->Rollback(context, request);
       },
       request, __func__);
 }
diff --git a/google/cloud/spanner/internal/connection_impl.h b/google/cloud/spanner/internal/connection_impl.h
index 3840f03ae7d59..4e1bf6ed60a19 100644
--- a/google/cloud/spanner/internal/connection_impl.h
+++ b/google/cloud/spanner/internal/connection_impl.h
@@ -159,7 +159,6 @@ class ConnectionImpl : public Connection {
       google::spanner::v1::ExecuteSqlRequest::QueryMode query_mode);
 
   Database db_;
-  std::shared_ptr<SpannerStub> stub_;
   std::shared_ptr<RetryPolicy const> retry_policy_prototype_;
   std::shared_ptr<BackoffPolicy const> backoff_policy_prototype_;
   std::shared_ptr<SessionPool> session_pool_;
diff --git a/google/cloud/spanner/internal/session.cc b/google/cloud/spanner/internal/session.cc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..ba385cdaf146b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/google/cloud/spanner/internal/session.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+// Copyright 2019 Google LLC
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+#include "google/cloud/spanner/internal/session.h"
+
+namespace google {
+namespace cloud {
+namespace spanner {
+inline namespace SPANNER_CLIENT_NS {
+namespace internal {
+
+SessionHolder MakeDissociatedSessionHolder(std::string session_name) {
+  return SessionHolder(new Session(std::move(session_name), /*stub=*/nullptr),
+                       std::default_delete<Session>());
+}
+
+}  // namespace internal
+}  // namespace SPANNER_CLIENT_NS
+}  // namespace spanner
+}  // namespace cloud
+}  // namespace google
diff --git a/google/cloud/spanner/internal/session.h b/google/cloud/spanner/internal/session.h
index 6040ae1178fda..219b460dae293 100644
--- a/google/cloud/spanner/internal/session.h
+++ b/google/cloud/spanner/internal/session.h
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 #ifndef GOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_SPANNER_GOOGLE_CLOUD_SPANNER_INTERNAL_SESSION_H_
 #define GOOGLE_CLOUD_CPP_SPANNER_GOOGLE_CLOUD_SPANNER_INTERNAL_SESSION_H_
 
+#include "google/cloud/spanner/internal/spanner_stub.h"
 #include "google/cloud/spanner/version.h"
 #include <functional>
 #include <memory>
@@ -32,8 +33,8 @@ namespace internal {
  */
 class Session {
  public:
-  Session(std::string session_name) noexcept
-      : session_name_(std::move(session_name)) {}
+  Session(std::string session_name, std::shared_ptr<SpannerStub> stub) noexcept
+      : session_name_(std::move(session_name)), stub_(std::move(stub)) {}
 
   // Not copyable or moveable.
   Session(Session const&) = delete;
@@ -44,7 +45,11 @@ class Session {
   std::string const& session_name() const { return session_name_; }
 
  private:
-  std::string session_name_;
+  friend class SessionPool;  // for access to stub()
+  std::shared_ptr<SpannerStub> stub() const { return stub_; }
+
+  std::string const session_name_;
+  std::shared_ptr<SpannerStub> const stub_;
 };
 
 /**
@@ -60,11 +65,7 @@ using SessionHolder = std::unique_ptr<Session, std::function<void(Session*)>>;
  * like partitioned operations where the `Session` may be used on multiple
  * machines and should not be returned to the pool.
  */
-template <typename... Args>
-SessionHolder MakeDissociatedSessionHolder(Args&&... args) {
-  return SessionHolder(new Session(std::forward<Args>(args)...),
-                       std::default_delete<Session>());
-}
+SessionHolder MakeDissociatedSessionHolder(std::string session_name);
 
 }  // namespace internal
 }  // namespace SPANNER_CLIENT_NS
diff --git a/google/cloud/spanner/internal/session_pool.cc b/google/cloud/spanner/internal/session_pool.cc
index 4421d5abd7841..90bc838003008 100644
--- a/google/cloud/spanner/internal/session_pool.cc
+++ b/google/cloud/spanner/internal/session_pool.cc
@@ -141,6 +141,15 @@ StatusOr<SessionHolder> SessionPool::Allocate(bool dissociate_from_pool) {
   }
 }
 
+std::shared_ptr<SpannerStub> SessionPool::GetStub(Session const& session) {
+  std::shared_ptr<SpannerStub> stub = session.stub();
+  if (stub) return stub;
+
+  // Sessions that were created for partitioned Reads/Queries do not have
+  // their own stub, so return one to use.
+  return stub_;
+}
+
 void SessionPool::Release(Session* session) {
   std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lk(mu_);
   bool notify = sessions_.empty();
@@ -172,7 +181,7 @@ StatusOr<std::vector<std::unique_ptr<Session>>> SessionPool::CreateSessions(
   sessions.reserve(response->session_size());
   for (auto& session : *response->mutable_session()) {
     sessions.push_back(google::cloud::internal::make_unique<Session>(
-        std::move(*session.mutable_name())));
+        std::move(*session.mutable_name()), stub_));
   }
   return {std::move(sessions)};
 }
diff --git a/google/cloud/spanner/internal/session_pool.h b/google/cloud/spanner/internal/session_pool.h
index 8ea2ae1491198..5f1a00a2af106 100644
--- a/google/cloud/spanner/internal/session_pool.h
+++ b/google/cloud/spanner/internal/session_pool.h
@@ -122,6 +122,11 @@ class SessionPool : public std::enable_shared_from_this<SessionPool> {
    */
   StatusOr<SessionHolder> Allocate(bool dissociate_from_pool = false);
 
+  /**
+   * Return a `SpannerStub` to be used when making calls using `session`.
+   */
+  std::shared_ptr<SpannerStub> GetStub(Session const& session);
+
  private:
   /**
    * Release session back to the pool.
diff --git a/google/cloud/spanner/internal/session_pool_test.cc b/google/cloud/spanner/internal/session_pool_test.cc
index 1c679d94f2d23..8bed4dc0e0967 100644
--- a/google/cloud/spanner/internal/session_pool_test.cc
+++ b/google/cloud/spanner/internal/session_pool_test.cc
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ TEST(SessionPool, Allocate) {
   auto session = pool->Allocate();
   ASSERT_STATUS_OK(session);
   EXPECT_EQ((*session)->session_name(), "session1");
+  EXPECT_EQ(pool->GetStub(**session), mock);
 }
 
 TEST(SessionPool, CreateError) {
@@ -233,6 +234,15 @@ TEST(SessionPool, MaxSessionsBlockUntilRelease) {
   t.join();
 }
 
+TEST(SessionPool, GetStubForStublessSession) {
+  auto mock = std::make_shared<spanner_testing::MockSpannerStub>();
+  auto db = Database("project", "instance", "database");
+  auto pool = MakeSessionPool(db, mock);
+  // ensure we get a stub even if we didn't allocate from the pool.
+  auto session = MakeDissociatedSessionHolder("session_id");
+  EXPECT_EQ(pool->GetStub(*session), mock);
+}
+
 }  // namespace
 }  // namespace internal
 }  // namespace SPANNER_CLIENT_NS
diff --git a/google/cloud/spanner/spanner_client.bzl b/google/cloud/spanner/spanner_client.bzl
index 8382c687199d1..c0c5fb2975037 100644
--- a/google/cloud/spanner/spanner_client.bzl
+++ b/google/cloud/spanner/spanner_client.bzl
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ spanner_client_srcs = [
     "internal/partial_result_set_resume.cc",
     "internal/partial_result_set_source.cc",
     "internal/retry_loop.cc",
+    "internal/session.cc",
     "internal/session_pool.cc",
     "internal/spanner_stub.cc",
     "internal/time.cc",