diff --git a/IPython/html/static/notebook/js/notificationarea.js b/IPython/html/static/notebook/js/notificationarea.js
index 8656b49..120c5d9 100644
--- a/IPython/html/static/notebook/js/notificationarea.js
+++ b/IPython/html/static/notebook/js/notificationarea.js
@@ -102,6 +102,16 @@ var IPython = (function (IPython) {
         $([IPython.events]).on('status_interrupting.Kernel',function () {
             knw.set_message("Interrupting kernel", 2000);
         });
+        
+        // Start the kernel indicator in the busy state, and send a kernel_info request.
+        // When the kernel_info reply arrives, the kernel is idle.
+        $kernel_ind_icon.attr('class','icon-circle').attr('title','Kernel Busy');
+
+        $([IPython.events]).on('status_started.Kernel', function (evt, data) {
+            data.kernel.kernel_info(function () {
+                $([IPython.events]).trigger('status_idle.Kernel');
+            });
+        });
 
         $([IPython.events]).on('status_dead.Kernel',function () {
             var msg = 'The kernel has died, and the automatic restart has failed.' +