diff --git a/plugins/kernels/fps_kernels/kernel_server/server.py b/plugins/kernels/fps_kernels/kernel_server/server.py
index 0af1950e..c828ab8b 100644
--- a/plugins/kernels/fps_kernels/kernel_server/server.py
+++ b/plugins/kernels/fps_kernels/kernel_server/server.py
@@ -38,17 +38,9 @@ def __init__(
     ) -> None:
         self.capture_kernel_output = capture_kernel_output
         self.kernelspec_path = kernelspec_path
-        if write_connection_file:
-            self.connection_file_path, self.connection_cfg = _write_connection_file(
-                connection_file
-            )
-        elif connection_file:
-            self.connection_file_path = connection_file
-            self.connection_cfg = read_connection_file(connection_file)
-        else:
-            assert connection_cfg is not None
-            self.connection_cfg = connection_cfg
-        self.key = cast(str, self.connection_cfg["key"])
+        self.connection_cfg = connection_cfg
+        self.connection_file = connection_file
+        self.write_connection_file = write_connection_file
         self.channel_tasks: List[asyncio.Task] = []
         self.sessions: Dict[str, WebSocket] = {}
         # blocked messages and allowed messages are mutually exclusive
@@ -57,6 +49,20 @@ def __init__(
             List[str]
         ] = None  # when None, all messages are allowed
         # when [], no message is allowed
+        self.setup_connection_file()
+
+    def setup_connection_file(self):
+        if self.write_connection_file:
+            self.connection_file_path, self.connection_cfg = _write_connection_file(
+                self.connection_file
+            )
+        elif self.connection_file:
+            self.connection_file_path = self.connection_file
+            self.connection_cfg = read_connection_file(self.connection_file)
+        else:
+            if self.connection_cfg is None:
+                raise RuntimeError("No connection_cfg")
+        self.key = cast(str, self.connection_cfg["key"])
 
     def block_messages(self, message_types: Iterable[str] = []):
         # if using blocked messages, discard allowed messages
@@ -118,26 +124,9 @@ async def stop(self) -> None:
         self.channel_tasks = []
 
     async def restart(self) -> None:
-        self.last_activity = {
-            "date": datetime.utcnow().isoformat() + "Z",
-            "execution_state": "starting",
-        }
-        for task in self.channel_tasks:
-            task.cancel()
-        self.channel_tasks = []
-        msg = create_message("shutdown_request", content={"restart": True})
-        send_message(msg, self.control_channel, self.key)
-        while True:
-            msg2 = await receive_message(self.control_channel)
-            assert msg2 is not None
-            if msg2["msg_type"] == "shutdown_reply" and msg2["content"]["restart"]:
-                break
-        await self._wait_for_ready()
-        self.channel_tasks += [
-            asyncio.create_task(self.listen_shell()),
-            asyncio.create_task(self.listen_control()),
-            asyncio.create_task(self.listen_iopub()),
-        ]
+        await self.stop()
+        self.setup_connection_file()
+        await self.start()
 
     async def serve(self, websocket: WebSocket, session_id: str):
         self.sessions[session_id] = websocket