diff --git a/IPython/kernel/blocking/channels.py b/IPython/kernel/blocking/channels.py
index 512070d..36bb78a 100644
--- a/IPython/kernel/blocking/channels.py
+++ b/IPython/kernel/blocking/channels.py
@@ -143,21 +143,6 @@ class BlockingShellChannel(ZMQSocketChannel):
     def start(self):
         self.socket = make_stdin_socket(self.context, self.session.bsession, self.address)
 
-    def _handle_kernel_info_reply(self, msg):
-        """handle kernel info reply
-
-        sets protocol adaptation version
-        """
-        adapt_version = int(msg['content']['protocol_version'].split('.')[0])
-        if adapt_version != major_protocol_version:
-            self.session.adapt_version = adapt_version
-
-    def _recv(self, **kwargs):
-        # Listen for kernel_info_reply message to do protocol adaptation
-        msg = ZMQSocketChannel._recv(self, **kwargs)
-        if msg['msg_type'] == 'kernel_info_reply':
-            self._handle_kernel_info_reply(msg)
-        return msg
 
 class BlockingIOPubChannel(ZMQSocketChannel):
     """The iopub channel which listens for messages that the kernel publishes.
@@ -169,9 +154,6 @@ class BlockingIOPubChannel(ZMQSocketChannel):
 
 class BlockingStdInChannel(ZMQSocketChannel):
     """The stdin channel to handle raw_input requests that the kernel makes."""
-    msg_queue = None
-    proxy_methods = ['input']
-
     def start(self):
         self.socket = make_stdin_socket(self.context, self.session.bsession, self.address)
 
diff --git a/IPython/kernel/blocking/client.py b/IPython/kernel/blocking/client.py
index 971cf0c..c2c7496 100644
--- a/IPython/kernel/blocking/client.py
+++ b/IPython/kernel/blocking/client.py
@@ -2,16 +2,13 @@
 
 Useful for test suites and blocking terminal interfaces.
 """
-#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-#  Copyright (C) 2013 The IPython Development Team
-#
-#  Distributed under the terms of the BSD License.  The full license is in
-#  the file COPYING.txt, distributed as part of this software.
-#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Copyright (c) IPython Development Team.
+# Distributed under the terms of the Modified BSD License.
 
-#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Imports
-#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+try:
+    from queue import Empty  # Python 3
+except ImportError:
+    from Queue import Empty  # Python 2
 
 from IPython.utils.traitlets import Type
 from IPython.kernel.client import KernelClient
@@ -20,11 +17,22 @@ from .channels import (
     BlockingShellChannel, BlockingStdInChannel
 )
 
-#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Blocking kernel manager
-#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
 class BlockingKernelClient(KernelClient):
+    def wait_for_ready(self):
+        # Wait for kernel info reply on shell channel
+        while True:
+            msg = self.shell_channel.get_msg(block=True)
+            if msg['msg_type'] == 'kernel_info_reply':
+                self._handle_kernel_info_reply(msg)
+                break
+
+        # Flush IOPub channel
+        while True:
+            try:
+                msg = self.iopub_channel.get_msg(block=True, timeout=0.2)
+                print(msg['msg_type'])
+            except Empty:
+                break
 
     # The classes to use for the various channels
     shell_channel_class = Type(BlockingShellChannel)
diff --git a/IPython/kernel/client.py b/IPython/kernel/client.py
index bd1d16d..729a331 100644
--- a/IPython/kernel/client.py
+++ b/IPython/kernel/client.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 # Distributed under the terms of the Modified BSD License.
 
 from __future__ import absolute_import
-from IPython.kernel.channels import validate_string_dict
+from IPython.kernel.channels import validate_string_dict, major_protocol_version
 from IPython.utils.py3compat import string_types
 
 import zmq
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ class KernelClient(ConnectionFileMixin):
         """
         if shell:
             self.shell_channel.start()
+            self.kernel_info()
         if iopub:
             self.iopub_channel.start()
         if stdin:
@@ -327,6 +328,15 @@ class KernelClient(ConnectionFileMixin):
         self.shell_channel._queue_send(msg)
         return msg['header']['msg_id']
 
+    def _handle_kernel_info_reply(self, msg):
+        """handle kernel info reply
+
+        sets protocol adaptation version
+        """
+        adapt_version = int(msg['content']['protocol_version'].split('.')[0])
+        if adapt_version != major_protocol_version:
+            self.session.adapt_version = adapt_version
+
     def shutdown(self, restart=False):
         """Request an immediate kernel shutdown.
 
diff --git a/IPython/kernel/manager.py b/IPython/kernel/manager.py
index 857bd82..6b125a2 100644
--- a/IPython/kernel/manager.py
+++ b/IPython/kernel/manager.py
@@ -421,17 +421,8 @@ def start_new_kernel(startup_timeout=60, kernel_name='python', **kwargs):
     km.start_kernel(**kwargs)
     kc = km.client()
     kc.start_channels()
+    kc.wait_for_ready()
 
-    kc.kernel_info()
-    kc.get_shell_msg(block=True, timeout=startup_timeout)
-
-    # Flush channels
-    for channel in (kc.shell_channel, kc.iopub_channel):
-        while True:
-            try:
-                channel.get_msg(block=True, timeout=0.1)
-            except Empty:
-                break
     return km, kc
 
 @contextmanager
diff --git a/IPython/kernel/zmq/tests/test_embed_kernel.py b/IPython/kernel/zmq/tests/test_embed_kernel.py
index 45f543f..977c22c 100644
--- a/IPython/kernel/zmq/tests/test_embed_kernel.py
+++ b/IPython/kernel/zmq/tests/test_embed_kernel.py
@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@ def setup_kernel(cmd):
     client = BlockingKernelClient(connection_file=connection_file)
     client.load_connection_file()
     client.start_channels()
+    client.wait_for_ready()
     
     try:
         yield client
diff --git a/IPython/qt/client.py b/IPython/qt/client.py
index 119a305..d4deb73 100644
--- a/IPython/qt/client.py
+++ b/IPython/qt/client.py
@@ -366,6 +366,14 @@ StdInChannelABC.register(QtStdInChannel)
 class QtKernelClient(QtKernelClientMixin, KernelClient):
     """ A KernelClient that provides signals and slots.
     """
+    def start_channels(self, shell=True, iopub=True, stdin=True, hb=True):
+        if shell:
+            self.shell_channel.kernel_info_reply.connect(self._handle_kernel_info_reply)
+        super(QtKernelClient, self).start_channels(shell, iopub, stdin, hb)
+
+    def _handle_kernel_info_reply(self, msg):
+        super(QtKernelClient, self)._handle_kernel_info_reply(msg)
+        self.shell_channel.kernel_info_reply.disconnect(self._handle_kernel_info_reply)
 
     iopub_channel_class = Type(QtIOPubChannel)
     shell_channel_class = Type(QtShellChannel)