diff --git a/IPython/html/static/services/sessions/js/session.js b/IPython/html/static/services/sessions/js/session.js
index fbca98f..dc41e87 100644
--- a/IPython/html/static/services/sessions/js/session.js
+++ b/IPython/html/static/services/sessions/js/session.js
@@ -48,6 +48,10 @@ define([
      * POST /api/sessions
      */
     Session.prototype.start = function (success, error) {
+        if (this.kernel !== null) {
+            throw new Error("session has already been started");
+        };
+
         var that = this;
         var on_success = function (data, status, xhr) {
             var kernel_service_url = utils.url_path_join(that.base_url, "api/kernels");
@@ -95,23 +99,31 @@ define([
      * PATCH /api/sessions/[:session_id]
      */
     Session.prototype.change = function (notebook_name, notebook_path, kernel_name, success, error) {
-        this.notebook_model.name = notebook_name;
-        this.notebook_model.path = notebook_path;
-        this.kernel_model.name = kernel_name;
+        if (notebook_name !== undefined) {
+            this.notebook_model.name = notebook_name;
+        }
+        if (notebook_path !== undefined) {
+            this.notebook_model.path = notebook_path;
+        }
+        if (kernel_name !== undefined) {
+            this.kernel_model.name = kernel_name;
+        }
+
+        console.log(JSON.stringify(this._get_model()));
 
         $.ajax(this.session_url, {
             processData: false,
             cache: false,
             type: "PATCH",
             data: JSON.stringify(this._get_model()),
-            dataType : "json",
+            dataType: "json",
             success: this._on_success(success),
             error: this._on_error(error)
         });
     };
 
     Session.prototype.rename_notebook = function (name, path, success, error) {
-        this.change(name, path, this.kernel_model.name, success, error);
+        this.change(name, path, undefined, success, error);
     };
 
     /**
diff --git a/IPython/html/tests/services/session.js b/IPython/html/tests/services/session.js
index fa6c057..bb23551 100644
--- a/IPython/html/tests/services/session.js
+++ b/IPython/html/tests/services/session.js
@@ -4,21 +4,107 @@
 //
 
 casper.notebook_test(function () {
+    var that = this;
+    var get_info = function () {
+        return that.evaluate(function () {
+            return JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(IPython.notebook.session._get_model()));
+        });
+    };
+
+    // test that the kernel is running
     this.then(function () {
         this.test.assert(this.kernel_running(), 'session: kernel is running');
     });
 
+    // test list
     this.thenEvaluate(function () {
-        IPython.notebook.session.delete();
+        IPython._sessions = null;
+        IPython.notebook.session.list(function (data) {
+            IPython._sessions = data;
+        });
+    });
+    this.waitFor(function () {
+        return this.evaluate(function () {
+            return IPython._sessions !== null;
+        });
+    });
+    this.then(function () {
+        var num_sessions = this.evaluate(function () {
+            return IPython._sessions.length;
+        });
+        this.test.assertEquals(num_sessions, 1, 'one session running');
     });
 
+    // test get_info
+    var session_info = get_info();
+    this.thenEvaluate(function () {
+        IPython._session_info = null;
+        IPython.notebook.session.get_info(function (data) {
+            IPython._session_info = data;
+        });
+    });
     this.waitFor(function () {
         return this.evaluate(function () {
-            return IPython.notebook.kernel.is_fully_disconnected();
+            return IPython._session_info !== null;
         });
     });
+    this.then(function () {
+        var new_session_info = this.evaluate(function () {
+            return IPython._session_info;
+        });
+        this.test.assertEquals(session_info.notebook.name, new_session_info.notebook.name, 'session: notebook name correct');
+        this.test.assertEquals(session_info.notebook.path, new_session_info.notebook.path, 'session: notebook path correct');
+        this.test.assertEquals(session_info.kernel.name, new_session_info.kernel.name, 'session: kernel name correct');
+        this.test.assertEquals(session_info.kernel.id, new_session_info.kernel.id, 'session: kernel id correct');
+    });
+
+    // test rename_notebook
+    //
+    // TODO: the PATCH request isn't supported by phantom, so this test always
+    // fails, see https://github.com/ariya/phantomjs/issues/11384
+    // when this is fixed we can properly run this test
+    //
+    // this.thenEvaluate(function () {
+    //     IPython._renamed = false;
+    //     IPython.notebook.session.rename_notebook(
+    //         "foo",
+    //         "bar",
+    //         function (data) {
+    //             IPython._renamed = true;
+    //         }
+    //     );
+    // });
+    // this.waitFor(function () {
+    //     return this.evaluate(function () {
+    //         return IPython._renamed;
+    //     });
+    // });
+    // this.then(function () {
+    //     var info = get_info();
+    //     this.test.assertEquals(info.notebook.name, "foo", "notebook was renamed");
+    //     this.test.assertEquals(info.notebook.path, "bar", "notebook path was changed");
+    // });
 
+    // test delete
+    this.thenEvaluate(function () {
+        IPython.notebook.session.delete();
+    });
+    this.waitFor(function () {
+        return this.evaluate(function () {
+            return IPython.notebook.kernel.is_fully_disconnected();
+        });
+    });
     this.then(function () {
         this.test.assert(!this.kernel_running(), 'session deletes kernel');
     });
+
+    // test start after delete -- should throw an error
+    this.then(function () {
+        var start = function () {
+            this.evaluate(function () {
+                IPython.notebook.session.start();
+            });
+        };
+        this.test.assertRaises(start, [], 'error raised on start after delete');
+    });
 });