diff --git a/IPython/kernel/channels.py b/IPython/kernel/channels.py
index 2730f0e..b22cfba 100644
--- a/IPython/kernel/channels.py
+++ b/IPython/kernel/channels.py
@@ -28,29 +28,6 @@ major_protocol_version = kernel_protocol_version_info[0]
 class InvalidPortNumber(Exception):
     pass
 
-
-def make_shell_socket(context, identity, address):
-    socket = context.socket(zmq.DEALER)
-    socket.linger = 1000
-    socket.identity = identity
-    socket.connect(address)
-    return socket
-
-def make_iopub_socket(context, identity, address):
-    socket = context.socket(zmq.SUB)
-    socket.linger = 1000
-    socket.subscribe = b''
-    socket.identity = identity
-    socket.connect(address)
-    return socket
-
-def make_stdin_socket(context, identity, address):
-    socket = context.socket(zmq.DEALER)
-    socket.linger = 1000
-    socket.identity = identity
-    socket.connect(address)
-    return socket
-
 class HBChannel(Thread):
     """The heartbeat channel which monitors the kernel heartbeat.
 
diff --git a/IPython/kernel/client.py b/IPython/kernel/client.py
index b9213aa..3040502 100644
--- a/IPython/kernel/client.py
+++ b/IPython/kernel/client.py
@@ -14,9 +14,6 @@ from IPython.utils.traitlets import (
 )
 
 from .channelsabc import (ChannelABC, HBChannelABC)
-from .channels import (
-    make_shell_socket, make_stdin_socket, make_iopub_socket
-)
 from .clientabc import KernelClientABC
 from .connect import ConnectionFileMixin
 
@@ -144,7 +141,7 @@ class KernelClient(ConnectionFileMixin):
         if self._shell_channel is None:
             url = self._make_url('shell')
             self.log.debug("connecting shell channel to %s", url)
-            socket = make_shell_socket(self.context, self.session.bsession, url)
+            socket = self.connect_shell(identity=self.session.bsession)
             self._shell_channel = self.shell_channel_class(
                 socket, self.session, self.ioloop
             )
@@ -156,7 +153,7 @@ class KernelClient(ConnectionFileMixin):
         if self._iopub_channel is None:
             url = self._make_url('iopub')
             self.log.debug("connecting iopub channel to %s", url)
-            socket = make_iopub_socket(self.context, self.session.bsession, url)
+            socket = self.connect_iopub()
             self._iopub_channel = self.iopub_channel_class(
                 socket, self.session, self.ioloop
             )
@@ -168,7 +165,7 @@ class KernelClient(ConnectionFileMixin):
         if self._stdin_channel is None:
             url = self._make_url('stdin')
             self.log.debug("connecting stdin channel to %s", url)
-            socket = make_stdin_socket(self.context, self.session.bsession, url)
+            socket = self.connect_stdin(identity=self.session.bsession)
             self._stdin_channel = self.stdin_channel_class(
                 socket, self.session, self.ioloop
             )
diff --git a/IPython/qt/client.py b/IPython/qt/client.py
index ed472d3..dc316f9 100644
--- a/IPython/qt/client.py
+++ b/IPython/qt/client.py
@@ -15,8 +15,7 @@ from IPython.external.qt import QtCore
 
 # Local imports
 from IPython.utils.traitlets import Type, Instance
-from IPython.kernel.channels import HBChannel,\
-    make_shell_socket, make_iopub_socket, make_stdin_socket
+from IPython.kernel.channels import HBChannel
 from IPython.kernel import KernelClient
 
 from .kernel_mixins import QtKernelClientMixin