diff --git a/IPython/html/static/base/js/dialog.js b/IPython/html/static/base/js/dialog.js
index c6ffae4..0bc41cf 100644
--- a/IPython/html/static/base/js/dialog.js
+++ b/IPython/html/static/base/js/dialog.js
@@ -90,6 +90,15 @@ define([
         return modal.modal(options);
     };
 
+    var kernel_modal = function (options) {
+        // only one kernel dialog should be open at a time -- but
+        // other modal dialogs can still be open
+        $('.kernel-modal').modal('hide');
+        var dialog = modal(options);
+        dialog.addClass('kernel-modal');
+        return dialog;
+    };
+
     var edit_metadata = function (options) {
         options.name = options.name || "Cell";
         var error_div = $('<div/>').css('color', 'red');
@@ -153,6 +162,7 @@ define([
     
     var dialog = {
         modal : modal,
+        kernel_modal : kernel_modal,
         edit_metadata : edit_metadata,
     };
 
diff --git a/IPython/html/static/notebook/js/notificationarea.js b/IPython/html/static/notebook/js/notificationarea.js
index 002e4b1..57f7edf 100644
--- a/IPython/html/static/notebook/js/notificationarea.js
+++ b/IPython/html/static/notebook/js/notificationarea.js
@@ -149,10 +149,7 @@ define([
             // times it tries restarting).
             if (info.attempt === 1) {
 
-                // hide existing modal dialog
-                $(".modal").modal('hide');
-
-                dialog.modal({
+                dialog.kernel_modal({
                     notebook: that.notebook,
                     keyboard_manager: that.keyboard_manager,
                     title: "Kernel Restarting",
@@ -186,15 +183,13 @@ define([
             // trying to reconnect and we don't want to spam the user
             // with messages
             if (info.attempt === 1) {
-                // hide existing dialog
-                $(".modal").modal('hide');
 
                 var msg = "A connection to the notebook server could not be established." +
                         " The notebook will continue trying to reconnect, but" +
                         " until it does, you will NOT be able to run code. Check your" +
                         " network connection or notebook server configuration.";
 
-                dialog.modal({
+                dialog.kernel_modal({
                     title: "Connection failed",
                     body: msg,
                     keyboard_manager: that.keyboard_manager,
@@ -215,8 +210,6 @@ define([
         this.events.on('kernel_dead.Kernel', function () {
 
             var showMsg = function () {
-                // hide existing dialog
-                $(".modal").modal('hide');
 
                 var msg = 'The kernel has died, and the automatic restart has failed.' +
                         ' It is possible the kernel cannot be restarted.' +
@@ -224,7 +217,7 @@ define([
                         ' the notebook, but running code will no longer work until the notebook' +
                         ' is reopened.';
 
-                dialog.modal({
+                dialog.kernel_modal({
                     title: "Dead kernel",
                     body : msg,
                     keyboard_manager: that.keyboard_manager,
@@ -273,10 +266,7 @@ define([
                     cm_open = $.proxy(cm.refresh, cm);
                 }
 
-                // hide existing modal dialog
-                $(".modal").modal('hide');
-
-                dialog.modal({
+                dialog.kernel_modal({
                     title: "Failed to start the kernel",
                     body : msg,
                     keyboard_manager: that.keyboard_manager,