diff --git a/spyder/plugins/ipythonconsole/tests/test_ipythonconsole.py b/spyder/plugins/ipythonconsole/tests/test_ipythonconsole.py
index 08f9e1f749a..de62590f99a 100644
--- a/spyder/plugins/ipythonconsole/tests/test_ipythonconsole.py
+++ b/spyder/plugins/ipythonconsole/tests/test_ipythonconsole.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 # Standard library imports
 import os
 import os.path as osp
+import re
 import shutil
 import sys
 from textwrap import dedent
@@ -40,8 +41,6 @@
 from spyder.plugins.ipythonconsole.tests.conftest import (
     get_conda_test_env, get_console_background_color, get_console_font_color,
     NEW_DIR, SHELL_TIMEOUT, TEMP_DIRECTORY)
-from spyder.plugins.ipythonconsole.utils.kernel_handler import (
-    KernelConnectionState)
 from spyder.plugins.ipythonconsole.widgets import ShellWidget
 from spyder.utils.conda import get_list_conda_envs
 
@@ -1355,30 +1354,57 @@ def test_conda_env_activation(ipyconsole, qtbot):
 
 
 @flaky(max_runs=3)
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("external_interpreter", [True, False])
 @pytest.mark.skipif(os.name == 'nt', reason="no SIGTERM on Windows")
-def test_kernel_kill(ipyconsole, qtbot):
+def test_kernel_kill(ipyconsole, qtbot, external_interpreter):
     """
     Test that the kernel correctly restarts after a kill.
     """
+    if external_interpreter:
+        if running_in_ci():
+            ipyconsole.set_conf('default', False, section='main_interpreter')
+            pyexec = get_conda_test_env()[1]
+            ipyconsole.set_conf(
+                'executable', pyexec, section='main_interpreter'
+            )
+            ipyconsole.create_new_client()
+        else:
+            # We can't check this locally
+            return
+
     shell = ipyconsole.get_current_shellwidget()
+
     # Wait for the restarter to start
     qtbot.wait(3000)
     crash_string = 'import os, signal; os.kill(os.getpid(), signal.SIGTERM)'
+
     # Check only one comm is open
     old_open_comms = list(shell.kernel_handler.kernel_comm._comms.keys())
     assert len(old_open_comms) == 1
     with qtbot.waitSignal(shell.sig_prompt_ready, timeout=30000):
         shell.execute(crash_string)
-    assert crash_string in shell._control.toPlainText()
-    assert "Restarting kernel..." in shell._control.toPlainText()
+
+    console_text = shell._control.toPlainText()
+    assert crash_string in console_text
+    assert "The kernel died, restarting..." in console_text
+
+    # Check we don't show error generated by `conda run`
+    assert "conda.cli.main_run" not in console_text
+
+    # Check IPython version is shown as expected
+    assert list(re.finditer(r"IPython \d+\.", console_text))
+
     # Check a new comm replaced the old one
     new_open_comms = list(shell.kernel_handler.kernel_comm._comms.keys())
     assert len(new_open_comms) == 1
     assert old_open_comms[0] != new_open_comms[0]
+
     # Wait until the comm replies
     qtbot.waitUntil(
         lambda: shell.kernel_handler.kernel_comm._comms[new_open_comms[0]][
-            'status'] == 'ready')
+            'status'] == 'ready'
+    )
+
     assert shell.kernel_handler.kernel_comm._comms[new_open_comms[0]][
         'status'] == 'ready'
 
diff --git a/spyder/plugins/ipythonconsole/utils/kernelspec.py b/spyder/plugins/ipythonconsole/utils/kernelspec.py
index 417025621b0..9d14fd3f4fa 100644
--- a/spyder/plugins/ipythonconsole/utils/kernelspec.py
+++ b/spyder/plugins/ipythonconsole/utils/kernelspec.py
@@ -25,8 +25,7 @@
 from spyder.plugins.ipythonconsole import (
     SPYDER_KERNELS_CONDA, SPYDER_KERNELS_PIP, SPYDER_KERNELS_VERSION,
     SpyderKernelError)
-from spyder.utils.conda import (add_quotes, get_conda_env_path, is_conda_env,
-                                find_conda)
+from spyder.utils.conda import get_conda_env_path, is_conda_env, find_conda
 from spyder.utils.environ import clean_env, get_user_environment_variables
 from spyder.utils.misc import get_python_executable
 from spyder.utils.programs import (
diff --git a/spyder/plugins/ipythonconsole/widgets/client.py b/spyder/plugins/ipythonconsole/widgets/client.py
index 05dfd184bc3..31bdf35c794 100644
--- a/spyder/plugins/ipythonconsole/widgets/client.py
+++ b/spyder/plugins/ipythonconsole/widgets/client.py
@@ -412,10 +412,6 @@ def connect_shellwidget_signals(self):
         self.shellwidget.executed.connect(
             self.sig_execution_state_changed)
 
-        # To show kernel restarted/died messages
-        self.shellwidget.sig_kernel_restarted_message.connect(
-            self.kernel_restarted_message)
-
         # To correctly change Matplotlib backend interactively
         self.shellwidget.executing.connect(
             self.shellwidget.change_mpl_backend)
@@ -509,7 +505,10 @@ def is_benign_error(self, error):
             "Note: Debugging will proceed. "
             "Set PYDEVD_DISABLE_FILE_VALIDATION=1 to disable this validation.",
             # Argument not expected error. See spyder-ide/spyder#19298
-            "The following argument was not expected"
+            "The following argument was not expected",
+            # Avoid showing error for kernel restarts after kernel dies when
+            # using an external interpreter
+            "conda.cli.main_run"
         ]
 
         return any([err in error for err in benign_errors])
@@ -614,18 +613,11 @@ def replace_kernel(self, kernel_handler, shutdown_kernel):
 
         # Reset shellwidget and print restart message
         self.shellwidget.reset(clear=True)
-        self.shellwidget.print_restart_message()
+        self.shellwidget._kernel_restarted_message(died=False)
 
     def print_fault(self, fault):
         """Print fault text."""
-        self.shellwidget._append_plain_text(
-            '\n' + fault, before_prompt=True)
-
-    @Slot(str)
-    def kernel_restarted_message(self, msg):
-        """Show kernel restarted/died messages."""
-        self.shellwidget._append_html("<br>%s<hr><br>" % msg,
-                                      before_prompt=False)
+        self.shellwidget._append_plain_text('\n' + fault, before_prompt=True)
 
     @Slot()
     def enter_array_inline(self):
diff --git a/spyder/plugins/ipythonconsole/widgets/main_widget.py b/spyder/plugins/ipythonconsole/widgets/main_widget.py
index f84cd091036..6e1bc063174 100644
--- a/spyder/plugins/ipythonconsole/widgets/main_widget.py
+++ b/spyder/plugins/ipythonconsole/widgets/main_widget.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 import os
 import os.path as osp
 import shlex
+import subprocess
 import sys
 
 # Third-party imports
@@ -1368,16 +1369,17 @@ def interpreter_versions(self, path_to_custom_interpreter=None):
                 ipython_version=release.version
             )
         else:
-            import subprocess
             versions = {}
             pyexec = self.get_conf('executable', section='main_interpreter')
             if path_to_custom_interpreter:
                 pyexec = path_to_custom_interpreter
-            py_cmd = u'%s -c "import sys; print(sys.version)"' % pyexec
+
+            py_cmd = '%s -c "import sys; print(sys.version)"' % pyexec
             ipy_cmd = (
-                u'%s -c "import IPython.core.release as r; print(r.version)"'
+                '%s -c "import IPython.core.release as r; print(r.version)"'
                 % pyexec
             )
+
             for cmd in [py_cmd, ipy_cmd]:
                 try:
                     # Use clean environment
@@ -1385,7 +1387,9 @@ def interpreter_versions(self, path_to_custom_interpreter=None):
                     output, _err = proc.communicate()
                 except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
                     output = ''
+
                 output = output.decode().split('\n')[0].strip()
+
                 if 'IPython' in cmd:
                     versions['ipython_version'] = output
                 else:
diff --git a/spyder/plugins/ipythonconsole/widgets/shell.py b/spyder/plugins/ipythonconsole/widgets/shell.py
index ae1d0201eea..e7179fd76e2 100644
--- a/spyder/plugins/ipythonconsole/widgets/shell.py
+++ b/spyder/plugins/ipythonconsole/widgets/shell.py
@@ -99,7 +99,6 @@ class ShellWidget(NamepaceBrowserWidget, HelpWidget, DebuggingWidget,
     # For ShellWidget
     sig_focus_changed = Signal()
     sig_new_client = Signal()
-    sig_kernel_restarted_message = Signal(str)
 
     # Kernel died and restarted (not user requested)
     sig_prompt_ready = Signal()
@@ -308,12 +307,6 @@ def reset_kernel_state(self):
         self._pdb_recursion_level = 0
         self._reading = False
 
-    def print_restart_message(self):
-        """Print restart message."""
-        self._append_html(
-            _("<br>Restarting kernel...<br>"), before_prompt=True)
-        self.insert_horizontal_ruler()
-
     def call_kernel(self, interrupt=False, blocking=False, callback=None,
                     timeout=None, display_error=False):
         """
@@ -731,8 +724,15 @@ def long_banner(self):
             'Python %s\n' % py_ver,
             'Type "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.',
             '\n\n',
-            'IPython %s -- An enhanced Interactive Python.\n' % ipy_ver
         ]
+
+        if ipy_ver:
+            banner_parts.append(
+                'IPython %s -- An enhanced Interactive Python.\n' % ipy_ver
+            )
+        else:
+            banner_parts.append('IPython -- An enhanced Interactive Python.\n')
+
         banner = ''.join(banner_parts)
 
         # Pylab additions
@@ -1215,7 +1215,10 @@ def _banner_default(self):
             return self.short_banner()
 
     def _kernel_restarted_message(self, died=True):
-        msg = _("Kernel died, restarting") if died else _("Kernel restarting")
+        msg = (
+            _("The kernel died, restarting...") if died
+            else _("Restarting kernel...")
+        )
 
         if died and self.kernel_manager is None:
             # The kernel might never restart, show position of fault file
@@ -1224,15 +1227,13 @@ def _kernel_restarted_message(self, died=True):
                 + self.kernel_handler.fault_filename()
             )
 
-        self.sig_kernel_restarted_message.emit(msg)
+        self._append_html(f"<br>{msg}<br>", before_prompt=False)
+        self.insert_horizontal_ruler()
 
     def _handle_kernel_restarted(self, *args, **kwargs):
         """The kernel restarted."""
         super()._handle_kernel_restarted(*args, **kwargs)
 
-        # Print restart message
-        self.print_restart_message()
-
         # Reset Pdb state
         self.reset_kernel_state()