diff --git a/jupyter_server/services/kernels/handlers.py b/jupyter_server/services/kernels/handlers.py
index e581c30471..1b23edb228 100644
--- a/jupyter_server/services/kernels/handlers.py
+++ b/jupyter_server/services/kernels/handlers.py
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ def _handle_kernel_info_reply(self, msg):
 
         enabling msg spec adaptation, if necessary
         """
-        idents,msg = self.session.feed_identities(msg)
+        idents, msg = self.session.feed_identities(msg)
         try:
             msg = self.session.deserialize(msg)
         except:
diff --git a/jupyter_server/services/kernels/kernelmanager.py b/jupyter_server/services/kernels/kernelmanager.py
index 3b12108b3a..3071fd7a7a 100644
--- a/jupyter_server/services/kernels/kernelmanager.py
+++ b/jupyter_server/services/kernels/kernelmanager.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta
 from functools import partial
 import os
+import time
 
 from tornado import web
 from tornado.concurrent import Future
@@ -320,37 +321,62 @@ async def restart_kernel(self, kernel_id):
         await ensure_async(self.pinned_superclass.restart_kernel(self, kernel_id))
         kernel = self.get_kernel(kernel_id)
         # return a Future that will resolve when the kernel has successfully restarted
-        channel = kernel.connect_shell()
+        shell_channel = kernel.connect_shell()
+        iopub_channel = kernel.connect_iopub()
         future = Future()
+        info_future = Future()
+        iopub_future = Future()
 
         def finish():
             """Common cleanup when restart finishes/fails for any reason."""
-            if not channel.closed():
-                channel.close()
             loop.remove_timeout(timeout)
             kernel.remove_restart_callback(on_restart_failed, 'dead')
 
-        def on_reply(msg):
+        def on_shell_reply(msg):
             self.log.debug("Kernel info reply received: %s", kernel_id)
-            finish()
-            if not future.done():
-                future.set_result(msg)
+            shell_channel.close()
+            if not info_future.done():
+                info_future.set_result(msg)
+            if iopub_future.done():
+                finish()
+                future.set_result(info_future.result())
+
+        def on_iopub(msg):
+            self.log.debug("first IOPub received: %s", kernel_id)
+            iopub_channel.close()
+            if not iopub_future.done():
+                iopub_future.set_result(None)
+            if info_future.done():
+                finish()
+                future.set_result(info_future.result())
 
         def on_timeout():
             self.log.warning("Timeout waiting for kernel_info_reply: %s", kernel_id)
+            if not shell_channel.closed():
+                shell_channel.close()
+            if not iopub_channel.closed():
+                iopub_channel.close()
             finish()
             if not future.done():
                 future.set_exception(TimeoutError("Timeout waiting for restart"))
 
         def on_restart_failed():
             self.log.warning("Restarting kernel failed: %s", kernel_id)
+            if not shell_channel.closed():
+                shell_channel.close()
+            if not iopub_channel.closed():
+                iopub_channel.close()
             finish()
             if not future.done():
                 future.set_exception(RuntimeError("Restart failed"))
 
         kernel.add_restart_callback(on_restart_failed, 'dead')
-        kernel.session.send(channel, "kernel_info_request")
-        channel.on_recv(on_reply)
+        iopub_channel.on_recv(on_iopub)
+        shell_channel.on_recv(on_shell_reply)
+        while not future.done():
+            time.sleep(0.2)
+            # Nudge the kernel with kernel info requests until we get an IOPub message
+            kernel.session.send(shell_channel, "kernel_info_request")
         loop = IOLoop.current()
         timeout = loop.add_timeout(loop.time() + self.kernel_info_timeout, on_timeout)
         return future