diff --git a/jupyter_client/manager.py b/jupyter_client/manager.py
index bf94ad002..bebef885b 100644
--- a/jupyter_client/manager.py
+++ b/jupyter_client/manager.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 import time
 
 import zmq
-
+from tornado import gen
 from ipython_genutils.importstring import import_item
 from .localinterfaces import is_local_ip, local_ips
 from traitlets import (
@@ -205,6 +205,7 @@ def _close_control_socket(self):
         self._control_socket.close()
         self._control_socket = None
 
+    @gen.coroutine
     def start_kernel(self, **kw):
         """Starts a kernel on this host in a separate process.
 
@@ -246,8 +247,7 @@ def start_kernel(self, **kw):
 
         # launch the kernel subprocess
         self.log.debug("Starting kernel: %s", kernel_cmd)
-        self.kernel = self._launch_kernel(kernel_cmd, env=env,
-                                    **kw)
+        self.kernel = yield gen.maybe_future(self._launch_kernel(kernel_cmd, env=env, **kw))
         self.start_restarter()
         self._connect_control_socket()
 
diff --git a/jupyter_client/multikernelmanager.py b/jupyter_client/multikernelmanager.py
index c2b61bde0..b3c0b9a02 100644
--- a/jupyter_client/multikernelmanager.py
+++ b/jupyter_client/multikernelmanager.py
@@ -7,9 +7,9 @@
 
 import os
 import uuid
-
 import zmq
 
+from tornado import gen
 from traitlets.config.configurable import LoggingConfigurable
 from ipython_genutils.importstring import import_item
 from traitlets import (
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ def __len__(self):
     def __contains__(self, kernel_id):
         return kernel_id in self._kernels
 
+    @gen.coroutine
     def start_kernel(self, kernel_name=None, **kwargs):
         """Start a new kernel.
 
@@ -107,9 +108,9 @@ def start_kernel(self, kernel_name=None, **kwargs):
                     parent=self, log=self.log, kernel_name=kernel_name,
                     **constructor_kwargs
         )
-        km.start_kernel(**kwargs)
+        yield gen.maybe_future(km.start_kernel(**kwargs))
         self._kernels[kernel_id] = km
-        return kernel_id
+        raise gen.Return(kernel_id)
 
     @kernel_method
     def shutdown_kernel(self, kernel_id, now=False, restart=False):