diff --git a/.github/workflows/python-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/python-tests.yml
index 08c20a2913..4fdffb2816 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/python-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/python-tests.yml
@@ -125,6 +125,7 @@ jobs:
           pip check
       - name: Run the tests
         run: |
+          pip install jupyter_client@https://github.com/blink1073/jupyter_client/archive/refs/heads/synchronous_managers.zip
           pytest -vv || pytest -vv --lf
 
   make_sdist:
diff --git a/jupyter_server/services/kernels/handlers.py b/jupyter_server/services/kernels/handlers.py
index 30e3da329f..91ce03826e 100644
--- a/jupyter_server/services/kernels/handlers.py
+++ b/jupyter_server/services/kernels/handlers.py
@@ -108,6 +108,15 @@ async def post(self, kernel_id, action):
         self.finish()
 
 
+def _ensure_future(f):
+    """Wrap a concurrent future as an asyncio future if there is a running loop."""
+    try:
+        asyncio.get_running_loop()
+        return asyncio.wrap_future(f)
+    except RuntimeError:
+        return f
+
+
 class ZMQChannelsHandler(AuthenticatedZMQStreamHandler):
     """There is one ZMQChannelsHandler per running kernel and it oversees all
     the sessions.
@@ -186,7 +195,7 @@ def nudge(self):
             self.log.debug("Nudge: not nudging busy kernel %s", self.kernel_id)
             f: Future = Future()
             f.set_result(None)
-            return f
+            return _ensure_future(f)
         # Use a transient shell channel to prevent leaking
         # shell responses to the front-end.
         shell_channel = kernel.connect_shell()
@@ -287,7 +296,7 @@ def nudge(count):
         future = gen.with_timeout(loop.time() + self.kernel_info_timeout, both_done)
         # ensure we have no dangling resources or unresolved Futures in case of timeout
         future.add_done_callback(finish)
-        return future
+        return _ensure_future(future)
 
     def request_kernel_info(self):
         """send a request for kernel_info"""
@@ -311,7 +320,7 @@ def request_kernel_info(self):
             if not future.done():
                 self.log.debug("Waiting for pending kernel_info request")
             future.add_done_callback(lambda f: self._finish_kernel_info(f.result()))
-        return self._kernel_info_future
+        return _ensure_future(self._kernel_info_future)
 
     def _handle_kernel_info_reply(self, msg):
         """process the kernel_info_reply
@@ -704,7 +713,7 @@ def _limit_rate(self, channel, msg, msg_list):
 
     def close(self):
         super().close()
-        return self._close_future
+        return _ensure_future(self._close_future)
 
     def on_close(self):
         self.log.debug("Websocket closed %s", self.session_key)