diff --git a/IPython/kernel/zmq/kernelapp.py b/IPython/kernel/zmq/kernelapp.py
index 535fc1f..37a126d 100644
--- a/IPython/kernel/zmq/kernelapp.py
+++ b/IPython/kernel/zmq/kernelapp.py
@@ -315,7 +315,7 @@ class IPKernelApp(BaseIPythonApplication, InteractiveShellApp,
         shell_stream = ZMQStream(self.shell_socket)
         control_stream = ZMQStream(self.control_socket)
         
-        kernel_factory = import_item(str(self.kernel_class))
+        kernel_factory = self.kernel_class
 
         kernel = kernel_factory(parent=self, session=self.session,
                                 shell_streams=[shell_stream, control_stream],