diff --git a/IPython/parallel/client/view.py b/IPython/parallel/client/view.py
index f263abd..bf0dabe 100644
--- a/IPython/parallel/client/view.py
+++ b/IPython/parallel/client/view.py
@@ -656,7 +656,7 @@ class DirectView(View):
         # applier = self.apply_sync if block else self.apply_async
         if not isinstance(ns, dict):
             raise TypeError("Must be a dict, not %s"%type(ns))
-        return self._really_apply(util._push, (ns,), block=block, track=track, targets=targets)
+        return self._really_apply(util._push, kwargs=ns, block=block, track=track, targets=targets)
 
     def get(self, key_s):
         """get object(s) by `key_s` from remote namespace
diff --git a/IPython/parallel/util.py b/IPython/parallel/util.py
index f5f389e..c473d2a 100644
--- a/IPython/parallel/util.py
+++ b/IPython/parallel/util.py
@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@ def interactive(f):
     return f
 
 @interactive
-def _push(ns):
+def _push(**ns):
     """helper method for implementing `client.push` via `client.apply`"""
     globals().update(ns)