diff --git a/IPython/html/static/tree/js/main.js b/IPython/html/static/tree/js/main.js
index 6982b6f..986ebb5 100644
--- a/IPython/html/static/tree/js/main.js
+++ b/IPython/html/static/tree/js/main.js
@@ -130,6 +130,7 @@ require([
     IPython.session_list = session_list;
     IPython.kernel_list = kernel_list;
     IPython.login_widget = login_widget;
+    IPython.new_notebook_widget = nnw;
 
     events.trigger('app_initialized.DashboardApp');
     
diff --git a/IPython/html/static/tree/js/newnotebook.js b/IPython/html/static/tree/js/newnotebook.js
index a860712..5753316 100644
--- a/IPython/html/static/tree/js/newnotebook.js
+++ b/IPython/html/static/tree/js/newnotebook.js
@@ -58,17 +58,12 @@ define([
             var li = $("<li>")
                 .attr("id", "kernel-" +ks.name)
                 .data('kernelspec', ks).append(
-                    $('<a>').attr('href', '#').append($('<i>')
-                        .addClass('kernel-menu-icon fa')
-                        .attr('href', '#')
-                        .click($.proxy(this.select_kernel, this, ks.name))
-                    ).append($('<span>')
+                    $('<a>')
                         .attr('href', '#')
                         .click($.proxy(this.new_notebook, this, ks.name))
                         .text(ks.display_name)
                         .attr('title', 'Create a new notebook with ' + ks.display_name)
-                    )
-            );
+                );
             menu.append(li);
         }
         this.config.loaded.then(function () {
@@ -77,17 +72,17 @@ define([
     };
     
     NewNotebookWidget.prototype._load_default_kernelspec = function (default_name) {
-        /** load default kernelspec name from localStorage, if defined */
+        /** load default kernelspec name from config, if defined */
         if (this.config.data.NewNotebookWidget &&
             this.config.data.NewNotebookWidget.current_selection &&
             this.kernelspecs[this.config.data.NewNotebookWidget.current_selection] !== undefined
         ) {
             default_name = this.config.data.NewNotebookWidget.current_selection;
         }
-        this.select_kernel(default_name);
+        this.set_default_kernel(default_name);
     };
 
-    NewNotebookWidget.prototype.select_kernel = function (kernel_name) {
+    NewNotebookWidget.prototype.set_default_kernel = function (kernel_name) {
         /** select the current default kernel */
         this.current_selection = kernel_name;
         this.config.update({
@@ -99,33 +94,13 @@ define([
         var display_name;
         if (spec) {
             display_name = spec.display_name;
-            localStorage.default_kernel_name = kernel_name;
             this.element.find("#current-kernel").text(display_name);
         } else {
             display_name = 'default kernel';
-            delete localStorage.default_kernel_name;
         }
         this.element.find("#new_notebook").attr('title',
             'Create a new notebook with ' + display_name
         );
-        this.element.find("li").map(function (i, li) {
-            li = $(li);
-            var ks = li.data('kernelspec');
-            if (ks.name == kernel_name) {
-                li.find(".kernel-menu-icon")
-                    .attr('title', display_name + ' is the default kernel')
-                    .addClass("kernel-menu-icon-current");
-            } else {
-                li.find(".kernel-menu-icon")
-                    .attr('title', 'Make ' + ks.display_name + ' the default kernel')
-                    .removeClass("kernel-menu-icon-current");
-            }
-        });
-    };
-    
-    NewNotebookWidget.prototype.new_with_kernel = function (kernel_name) {
-        /** record current selection and open a new notebook */
-        this.new_notebook(kernel_name);
     };
     
     NewNotebookWidget.prototype.new_notebook = function (kernel_name) {