diff --git a/plugins/akernel_task/fps_akernel_task/akernel_task.py b/plugins/akernel_task/fps_akernel_task/akernel_task.py
index fa0a978..4e88019 100644
--- a/plugins/akernel_task/fps_akernel_task/akernel_task.py
+++ b/plugins/akernel_task/fps_akernel_task/akernel_task.py
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ async def start(self, *, task_status: TaskStatus[None] = TASK_STATUS_IGNORED) ->
             )
             self.task_group.start_soon(self.kernel.start)
             task_status.started()
+            self.started.set()
             await sleep_forever()
 
     async def stop(self) -> None:
diff --git a/plugins/akernel_task/pyproject.toml b/plugins/akernel_task/pyproject.toml
index f5fc7ee..831c4b3 100644
--- a/plugins/akernel_task/pyproject.toml
+++ b/plugins/akernel_task/pyproject.toml
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ description = "An FPS plugin for the kernel task API"
 keywords = ["jupyter", "server", "fastapi", "plugins"]
 requires-python = ">=3.9"
 dependencies = [
-    "jupyverse-api >=0.10.0,<0.11.0",
+    "jupyverse-api >=0.10.1,<0.11.0",
     "anyio",
     "akernel",
 ]
diff --git a/src/akernel/message.py b/src/akernel/message.py
index bd40e96..0ca14dc 100644
--- a/src/akernel/message.py
+++ b/src/akernel/message.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ def utcnow() -> datetime:
 
 def feed_identities(msg_list: list[bytes]) -> tuple[list[bytes], list[bytes]]:
     idx = msg_list.index(DELIM)
-    idents = msg_list[:idx] or ["foo"]
+    idents = msg_list[:idx] or [b"foo"]
     return idents , msg_list[idx + 1 :]  # noqa