diff --git a/IPython/html/services/sessions/handlers.py b/IPython/html/services/sessions/handlers.py
index 691339f0d..98def21a5 100644
--- a/IPython/html/services/sessions/handlers.py
+++ b/IPython/html/services/sessions/handlers.py
@@ -45,7 +45,8 @@ class SessionRootHandler(IPythonHandler):
         try:
             kernel_name = model['kernel']['name']
         except KeyError:
-            raise web.HTTPError(400, "Missing field in JSON data: kernel.name")
+            self.log.debug("No kernel name specified, using default kernel")
+            kernel_name = None
 
         # Check to see if session exists
         if sm.session_exists(name=name, path=path):
diff --git a/IPython/html/services/sessions/sessionmanager.py b/IPython/html/services/sessions/sessionmanager.py
index b105344c1..fc1674b3c 100644
--- a/IPython/html/services/sessions/sessionmanager.py
+++ b/IPython/html/services/sessions/sessionmanager.py
@@ -1,20 +1,7 @@
-"""A base class session manager.
+"""A base class session manager."""
 
-Authors:
-
-* Zach Sailer
-"""
-
-#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-#  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 uuid
 import sqlite3
@@ -25,9 +12,6 @@ from IPython.config.configurable import LoggingConfigurable
 from IPython.utils.py3compat import unicode_type
 from IPython.utils.traitlets import Instance
 
-#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Classes
-#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 class SessionManager(LoggingConfigurable):
 
@@ -73,7 +57,7 @@ class SessionManager(LoggingConfigurable):
         "Create a uuid for a new session"
         return unicode_type(uuid.uuid4())
 
-    def create_session(self, name=None, path=None, kernel_name='python'):
+    def create_session(self, name=None, path=None, kernel_name=None):
         """Creates a session and returns its model"""
         session_id = self.new_session_id()
         # allow nbm to specify kernels cwd
diff --git a/IPython/html/static/notebook/js/kernelselector.js b/IPython/html/static/notebook/js/kernelselector.js
index ce9b91960..759b97e3c 100644
--- a/IPython/html/static/notebook/js/kernelselector.js
+++ b/IPython/html/static/notebook/js/kernelselector.js
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ define([
         this.selector = selector;
         this.notebook = notebook;
         this.events = notebook.events;
-        this.current_selection = notebook.default_kernel_name;
+        this.current_selection = null;
         this.kernelspecs = {};
         if (this.selector !== undefined) {
             this.element = $(selector);
diff --git a/IPython/html/static/notebook/js/notebook.js b/IPython/html/static/notebook/js/notebook.js
index 7e17848da..1f65924a9 100644
--- a/IPython/html/static/notebook/js/notebook.js
+++ b/IPython/html/static/notebook/js/notebook.js
@@ -70,9 +70,6 @@ define([
         //  Create default scroll manager.
         this.scroll_manager = new scrollmanager.ScrollManager(this);
 
-        // default_kernel_name is a temporary measure while we implement proper
-        // kernel selection and delayed start. Do not rely on it.
-        this.default_kernel_name = 'python';
         // TODO: This code smells (and the other `= this` line a couple lines down)
         // We need a better way to deal with circular instance references.
         this.keyboard_manager.notebook = this;
@@ -1563,9 +1560,6 @@ define([
      */
     Notebook.prototype.start_session = function (kernel_name) {
         var that = this;
-        if (kernel_name === undefined) {
-            kernel_name = this.default_kernel_name;
-        }
         if (this._session_starting) {
             throw new session.SessionAlreadyStarting();
         }
@@ -2330,7 +2324,7 @@ define([
         // code execution upon loading, which is a security risk.
         if (this.session === null) {
             var kernelspec = this.metadata.kernelspec || {};
-            var kernel_name = kernelspec.name || this.default_kernel_name;
+            var kernel_name = kernelspec.name;
 
             this.start_session(kernel_name);
         }