diff --git a/IPython/html/services/sessions/handlers.py b/IPython/html/services/sessions/handlers.py
index 0573e69..addfd88 100644
--- a/IPython/html/services/sessions/handlers.py
+++ b/IPython/html/services/sessions/handlers.py
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ class SessionRootHandler(IPythonHandler):
except NoSuchKernel:
msg = ("The '%s' kernel is not available. Please pick another "
"suitable kernel instead, or install that kernel." % kernel_name)
- status_msg = 'Kernel not found'
+ status_msg = '%s not found' % kernel_name
self.log.warn('Kernel not found: %s' % kernel_name)
self.set_status(501)
self.finish(json.dumps(dict(message=msg, short_message=status_msg)))