diff --git a/IPython/parallel/controller/hub.py b/IPython/parallel/controller/hub.py
index 57a1ecf..a32dde7 100755
--- a/IPython/parallel/controller/hub.py
+++ b/IPython/parallel/controller/hub.py
@@ -307,7 +307,7 @@ class Hub(LoggingFactory):
     completed=Dict() # completed msg_ids keyed by engine_id
     all_completed=Set() # completed msg_ids keyed by engine_id
     dead_engines=Set() # completed msg_ids keyed by engine_id
-    # mia=None
+    unassigned=Set() # set of task msg_ds not yet assigned a destination
     incoming_registrations=Dict()
     registration_timeout=Int()
     _idcounter=Int(0)
@@ -640,6 +640,7 @@ class Hub(LoggingFactory):
         header = msg['header']
         msg_id = header['msg_id']
         self.pending.add(msg_id)
+        self.unassigned.add(msg_id)
         try:
             # it's posible iopub arrived first:
             existing = self.db.get_record(msg_id)
@@ -670,6 +671,8 @@ class Hub(LoggingFactory):
             self.log.warn("Task %r had no parent!"%msg)
             return
         msg_id = parent['msg_id']
+        if msg_id in self.unassigned:
+            self.unassigned.remove(msg_id)
         
         header = msg['header']
         engine_uuid = header.get('engine', None)
@@ -713,8 +716,8 @@ class Hub(LoggingFactory):
         eid = self.by_ident[engine_uuid]
         
         self.log.info("task::task %s arrived on %s"%(msg_id, eid))
-        # if msg_id in self.mia:
-        #     self.mia.remove(msg_id)
+        if msg_id in self.unassigned:
+            self.unassigned.remove(msg_id)
         # else:
         #     self.log.debug("task::task %s not listed as MIA?!"%(msg_id))
         
@@ -1003,7 +1006,8 @@ class Hub(LoggingFactory):
                 completed = len(completed)
                 tasks = len(tasks)
             content[bytes(t)] = {'queue': queue, 'completed': completed , 'tasks': tasks}
-            # pending
+        content['unassigned'] = list(self.unassigned) if verbose else len(self.unassigned)
+        
         self.session.send(self.query, "queue_reply", content=content, ident=client_id)
     
     def purge_results(self, client_id, msg):
diff --git a/IPython/parallel/engine/streamkernel.py b/IPython/parallel/engine/streamkernel.py
index 8aaf71e..6c03e06 100755
--- a/IPython/parallel/engine/streamkernel.py
+++ b/IPython/parallel/engine/streamkernel.py
@@ -380,8 +380,9 @@ class Kernel(SessionFactory):
             self.aborted.remove(msg_id)
             # is it safe to assume a msg_id will not be resubmitted?
             reply_type = msg['msg_type'].split('_')[0] + '_reply'
-            reply_msg = self.session.send(stream, reply_type, 
-                        content={'status' : 'aborted'}, parent=msg, ident=idents)
+            status = {'status' : 'aborted'}
+            reply_msg = self.session.send(stream, reply_type, subheader=status,
+                        content=status, parent=msg, ident=idents)
             return
         handler = self.shell_handlers.get(msg['msg_type'], None)
         if handler is None: