diff --git a/IPython/html/notebookapp.py b/IPython/html/notebookapp.py
index e76bda80d..b216eca78 100644
--- a/IPython/html/notebookapp.py
+++ b/IPython/html/notebookapp.py
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ class NotebookApp(BaseIPythonApplication):
         list=(NbserverListApp, NbserverListApp.description.splitlines()[0]),
     )
 
-    kernel_argv = List(Unicode)
+    ipython_kernel_argv = List(Unicode)
     
     _log_formatter_cls = LogFormatter
 
@@ -683,16 +683,17 @@ class NotebookApp(BaseIPythonApplication):
             self.update_config(c)
 
     def init_kernel_argv(self):
-        """construct the kernel arguments"""
+        """add the profile-dir to arguments to be passed to IPython kernels"""
+        # FIXME: remove special treatment of IPython kernels
         # Kernel should get *absolute* path to profile directory
-        self.kernel_argv = ["--profile-dir", self.profile_dir.location]
+        self.ipython_kernel_argv = ["--profile-dir", self.profile_dir.location]
 
     def init_configurables(self):
         # force Session default to be secure
         default_secure(self.config)
         kls = import_item(self.kernel_manager_class)
         self.kernel_manager = kls(
-            parent=self, log=self.log, kernel_argv=self.kernel_argv,
+            parent=self, log=self.log, ipython_kernel_argv=self.ipython_kernel_argv,
             connection_dir = self.profile_dir.security_dir,
         )
         kls = import_item(self.contents_manager_class)
diff --git a/IPython/html/services/kernels/kernelmanager.py b/IPython/html/services/kernels/kernelmanager.py
index 3132efb6c..d135b1373 100644
--- a/IPython/html/services/kernels/kernelmanager.py
+++ b/IPython/html/services/kernels/kernelmanager.py
@@ -1,35 +1,22 @@
-"""A kernel manager relating notebooks and kernels
+"""A MultiKernelManager for use in the notebook webserver
 
-Authors:
-
-* Brian Granger
+- raises HTTPErrors
+- creates REST API models
 """
 
-#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-#  Copyright (C) 2013  The IPython Development Team
-#
-#  Distributed under the terms of the BSD License.  The full license is in
-#  the file COPYING, distributed as part of this software.
-#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Imports
-#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Copyright (c) IPython Development Team.
+# Distributed under the terms of the Modified BSD License.
 
 import os
 
 from tornado import web
 
 from IPython.kernel.multikernelmanager import MultiKernelManager
-from IPython.utils.traitlets import List, Unicode, TraitError
+from IPython.utils.traitlets import Unicode, TraitError
 
 from IPython.html.utils import to_os_path
 from IPython.utils.py3compat import getcwd
 
-#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Classes
-#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
 
 class MappingKernelManager(MultiKernelManager):
     """A KernelManager that handles notebook mapping and HTTP error handling"""
@@ -37,8 +24,6 @@ class MappingKernelManager(MultiKernelManager):
     def _kernel_manager_class_default(self):
         return "IPython.kernel.ioloop.IOLoopKernelManager"
 
-    kernel_argv = List(Unicode)
-
     root_dir = Unicode(getcwd(), config=True)
 
     def _root_dir_changed(self, name, old, new):
@@ -89,7 +74,6 @@ class MappingKernelManager(MultiKernelManager):
             an existing kernel is returned, but it may be checked in the future.
         """
         if kernel_id is None:
-            kwargs['extra_arguments'] = self.kernel_argv
             if path is not None:
                 kwargs['cwd'] = self.cwd_for_path(path)
             kernel_id = super(MappingKernelManager, self).start_kernel(