The chain of events surrounding the initiation and intensification of the last glacial cycle remain relatively poorly understood. In particular, the role of Southern Ocean paleocirculation changes is poorly constrained, in part, owing to a paucity of sedimentary records from this region. In this study we present multiproxy data – including neodymium isotope and sortable silt measurements – for paleocirculation changes within the deep (3167 m water depth) Indian sector of the Southern Ocean from a new sediment core, TT1811-34GGC (41.718°S, 80.163°E). We find a tight coupling between circulation changes, Antarctic climate, and atmospheric CO2 concentrations throughout the last 118,000 years, even during the initial stages of glacial inception of Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5.4 to 5.1. We find that periods of cooling correspond to reductions in the entrainment of North Atlantic-sourced waters within the deep Southern Ocean, as evidenced by more radiogenic neodymium isotope values of deep water bathing our core site. Cooling also corresponds to generally slower bottom water flow speeds, as indicated by finer sortable silt size fractions. A reduction in entrainment of North-Atlantic sourced waters occurred during MIS 5.4–5.1, when Atlantic circulation was strong, suggesting a Southern hemisphere control on paleocirculation changes at that time. We hypothesise that expanded Southern Ocean sea-ice during MIS 5.4 increased the density of the deep Southern Ocean, reducing the ability of Atlantic-sourced waters to mix into Lower Circumpolar Deep Water. This led to an expanded contribution of Pacific Deep Water within the lower circulation cell and increased stratification within the deep Southern Ocean. These paleocirculation changes can help account for the reduction in atmospheric CO2 across the MIS 5.5 to 5.4 transition, and in doing so help explain the chain of events surrounding the decent into the last glacial period. •Proportion of NADW mixing into LCDW reduced during the last glacial period.•A reduction in NADW within LCDW is observed during early stages of glacial inception during MIS 5.4•Increased stratification within Southern Ocean early during the last glacial cycle is inferred.•Physical circulation changes within the Southern Ocean may play a role in initiation of glaciation.