diff --git a/IPython/consoleapp.py b/IPython/consoleapp.py
index 574df95..10aee3d 100644
--- a/IPython/consoleapp.py
+++ b/IPython/consoleapp.py
@@ -165,8 +165,6 @@ class IPythonConsoleApp(ConnectionFileMixin):
         if argv is None:
             argv = sys.argv[1:]
         self.kernel_argv = swallow_argv(argv, self.frontend_aliases, self.frontend_flags)
-        # kernel should inherit default config file from frontend
-        self.kernel_argv.append("--IPKernelApp.parent_appname='%s'" % self.name)
     
     def init_connection_file(self):
         """find the connection file, and load the info if found.
diff --git a/IPython/html/notebookapp.py b/IPython/html/notebookapp.py
index 9c555d6..0533f8a 100644
--- a/IPython/html/notebookapp.py
+++ b/IPython/html/notebookapp.py
@@ -589,11 +589,8 @@ class NotebookApp(BaseIPythonApplication):
 
     def init_kernel_argv(self):
         """construct the kernel arguments"""
-        self.kernel_argv = []
-        # Kernel should inherit default config file from frontend
-        self.kernel_argv.append("--IPKernelApp.parent_appname='%s'" % self.name)
         # Kernel should get *absolute* path to profile directory
-        self.kernel_argv.extend(["--profile-dir", self.profile_dir.location])
+        self.kernel_argv = ["--profile-dir", self.profile_dir.location]
 
     def init_configurables(self):
         # force Session default to be secure
diff --git a/IPython/kernel/zmq/kernelapp.py b/IPython/kernel/zmq/kernelapp.py
index 8806cef..6bfdc52 100644
--- a/IPython/kernel/zmq/kernelapp.py
+++ b/IPython/kernel/zmq/kernelapp.py
@@ -118,16 +118,6 @@ class IPKernelApp(BaseIPythonApplication, InteractiveShellApp,
     def _config_file_name_default(self):
         return 'ipython_config.py'
     
-    # inherit config file name from parent:
-    parent_appname = Unicode(config=True)
-    def _parent_appname_changed(self, name, old, new):
-        if self.config_file_specified:
-            # it was manually specified, ignore
-            return
-        self.config_file_name = new.replace('-','_') + u'_config.py'
-        # don't let this count as specifying the config file
-        self.config_file_specified.remove(self.config_file_name)
-        
     # connection info:
     
     @property