diff --git a/ipykernel/eventloops.py b/ipykernel/eventloops.py
index 1f7f47f3e..eade2d457 100644
--- a/ipykernel/eventloops.py
+++ b/ipykernel/eventloops.py
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ def process_stream_events():
     fd = stream.getsockopt(zmq.FD)
     notifier = QtCore.QSocketNotifier(fd, QtCore.QSocketNotifier.Read, kernel.app)
     notifier.activated.connect(process_stream_events)
+    notifier.activated.connect(notifier.deleteLater)
     # there may already be unprocessed events waiting.
     # these events will not wake zmq's edge-triggered FD
     # since edge-triggered notification only occurs on new i/o activity.
@@ -49,6 +50,7 @@ def process_stream_events():
     timer = QtCore.QTimer(kernel.app)
     timer.setSingleShot(True)
     timer.timeout.connect(process_stream_events)
+    timer.timeout.connect(timer.deleteLater)
     timer.start(0)
 
 # mapping of keys to loop functions