diff --git a/ipykernel/kernelapp.py b/ipykernel/kernelapp.py
index 55efaa8e..b50d6dc4 100644
--- a/ipykernel/kernelapp.py
+++ b/ipykernel/kernelapp.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 
 import zmq
 import zmq.asyncio
-from anyio import create_task_group, run
+from anyio import create_task_group, run, to_thread
 from IPython.core.application import (  # type:ignore[attr-defined]
     BaseIPythonApplication,
     base_aliases,
@@ -738,7 +738,7 @@ def start(self) -> None:
         return
 
     async def _wait_to_enter_eventloop(self):
-        await self.kernel._eventloop_set.wait()
+        await to_thread.run_sync(self.kernel._eventloop_set.wait)
         await self.kernel.enter_eventloop()
 
     async def main(self):
diff --git a/ipykernel/kernelbase.py b/ipykernel/kernelbase.py
index d496e0c9..5a105719 100644
--- a/ipykernel/kernelbase.py
+++ b/ipykernel/kernelbase.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
 
 import psutil
 import zmq
-from anyio import TASK_STATUS_IGNORED, Event, create_task_group, sleep, to_thread
+from anyio import TASK_STATUS_IGNORED, create_task_group, sleep, to_thread
 from anyio.abc import TaskStatus
 from IPython.core.error import StdinNotImplementedError
 from jupyter_client.session import Session
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ def _parent_header(self):
         "list_subshell_request",
     ]
 
-    _eventloop_set: Event = Event()
+    _eventloop_set: threading.Event = threading.Event()
 
     def __init__(self, **kwargs):
         """Initialize the kernel."""
@@ -553,9 +553,8 @@ async def start(self, *, task_status: TaskStatus = TASK_STATUS_IGNORED) -> None:
                     tg.start_soon(self.shell_main, None)
 
     def stop(self):
-        if not self._eventloop_set.is_set():
-            # Stop the async task that is waiting for the eventloop to be set.
-            self._eventloop_set.set()
+        # Stop the async task that is waiting for the eventloop to be set.
+        self._eventloop_set.set()
 
         self.shell_stop.set()
         self.control_stop.set()