diff --git a/notebook/services/kernels/kernelmanager.py b/notebook/services/kernels/kernelmanager.py
index 859c9c2d7..45dac8b69 100644
--- a/notebook/services/kernels/kernelmanager.py
+++ b/notebook/services/kernels/kernelmanager.py
@@ -272,8 +272,9 @@ class MappingKernelManager(MultiKernelManager):
         """Shutdown a kernel by kernel_id"""
         self._check_kernel_id(kernel_id)
         kernel = self._kernels[kernel_id]
-        kernel._activity_stream.close()
-        kernel._activity_stream = None
+        if kernel._activity_stream:
+            kernel._activity_stream.close()
+            kernel._activity_stream = None
         self.stop_buffering(kernel_id)
         self._kernel_connections.pop(kernel_id, None)
         self.last_kernel_activity = utcnow()