diff --git a/wrap/python/tests/ipnbdoctest.py b/wrap/python/tests/ipnbdoctest.py
index 9a7d20cff..4b14f4400 100755
--- a/wrap/python/tests/ipnbdoctest.py
+++ b/wrap/python/tests/ipnbdoctest.py
@@ -34,8 +34,8 @@ try:
 except ImportError:
     from IPython.zmq.blockingkernelmanager import BlockingKernelManager as KernelManager
 
-from IPython.nbformat.current import reads, NotebookNode
-
+# Until Debian ships IPython 3.0, we stick to the v3 format.
+from IPython.nbformat import v3 as nbformat
 
 def compare_png(a64, b64):
     """compare two b64 PNGs (incomplete)"""
@@ -61,8 +61,8 @@ def sanitize(s):
     # ignore trailing newlines (but not space)
     s = s.rstrip('\n')
 
-    # normalize hex addresses:
-    s = re.sub(r'0x[a-f0-9]+', '0xFFFFFFFF', s)
+    # remove hex addresses:
+    s = re.sub(r'at 0x[a-f0-9]+', 'object', s)
 
     # normalize UUIDs:
     s = re.sub(r'[a-f0-9]{8}(\-[a-f0-9]{4}){3}\-[a-f0-9]{12}', 'U-U-I-D', s)
@@ -108,33 +108,54 @@ def compare_outputs(test, ref, skip_cmp=('png', 'traceback',
             return False
     return True
 
+def _wait_for_ready_backport(kf):
+    """Backport BlockingKernelClient.wait_for_ready from IPython 3"""
+    # Wait for kernel info reply on shell channel
+    kc.kernel_info()
+    while True:
+        msg = kc.get_shell_msg(block=True, timeout=30)
+        if msg['msg_type'] == 'kernel_info_reply':
+            break
+    # Flush IOPub channel
+    while True:
+        try:
+            msg = kc.get_iopub_msg(block=True, timeout=0.2)
+        except Empty:
+            break
 
-def run_cell(shell, iopub, cell):
+def run_cell(kc, cell):
     # print cell.input
-    shell.execute(cell.input)
+    kc.execute(cell.input)
     # wait for finish, maximum 20s
-    shell.get_msg(timeout=20)
+    kc.get_shell_msg(timeout=20)
     outs = []
 
     while True:
         try:
-            msg = iopub.get_msg(timeout=0.2)
+            msg = kc.get_iopub_msg(timeout=0.2)
         except Empty:
             break
         msg_type = msg['msg_type']
-        if msg_type in ('status', 'pyin'):
+        if msg_type in ('status', 'pyin', 'execute_input'):
             continue
         elif msg_type == 'clear_output':
             outs = []
             continue
 
         content = msg['content']
-        # print msg_type, content
-        out = NotebookNode(output_type=msg_type)
+        # print (msg_type, content)
+        if msg_type == 'execute_result':
+            msg_type = 'pyout'
+        elif msg_type == 'error':
+            msg_type = 'pyerr'
+        out = nbformat.NotebookNode(output_type=msg_type)
 
         if msg_type == 'stream':
             out.stream = content['name']
-            out.text = content['data']
+            if 'text' in content:
+                out.text = content['text']
+            else:
+                out.text = content['data']
         elif msg_type in ('display_data', 'pyout'):
             out['metadata'] = content['metadata']
             for mime, data in content['data'].items():
@@ -142,7 +163,7 @@ def run_cell(shell, iopub, cell):
                 # this gets most right, but fix svg+html, plain
                 attr = attr.replace('+xml', '').replace('plain', 'text')
                 setattr(out, attr, data)
-            if msg_type == 'pyout':
+            if 'execution_count' in content:
                 out.prompt_number = content['execution_count']
         elif msg_type == 'pyerr':
             out.ename = content['ename']
@@ -156,29 +177,19 @@ def run_cell(shell, iopub, cell):
 
 
 def test_notebook(nb):
+    # run %pylab inline, because some notebooks assume this
+    # even though they shouldn't
     km = KernelManager()
     km.start_kernel(extra_arguments=['--pylab=inline'],
                     stderr=open(os.devnull, 'w'))
-    try:
-        kc = km.client()
-        kc.start_channels()
-        iopub = kc.iopub_channel
-    except AttributeError:
-        # IPython 0.13
-        kc = km
-        kc.start_channels()
-        iopub = kc.sub_channel
-    shell = kc.shell_channel
 
-    # run %pylab inline, because some notebooks assume this
-    # even though they shouldn't
-    shell.execute("pass")
-    shell.get_msg()
-    while True:
-        try:
-            iopub.get_msg(timeout=1)
-        except Empty:
-            break
+    kc = km.client()
+    kc.start_channels()
+
+    try:
+        kc.wait_for_ready()
+    except AttributeError:
+        _wait_for_ready_backport(kc)
 
     successes = 0
     failures = 0
@@ -188,7 +199,7 @@ def test_notebook(nb):
             if cell.cell_type != 'code':
                 continue
             try:
-                outs = run_cell(shell, iopub, cell)
+                outs = run_cell(kc, cell)
             except Exception as e:
                 print("failed to run cell:", repr(e))
                 print(cell.input)
@@ -228,5 +239,5 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
     for ipynb in sys.argv[1:]:
         print("testing %s" % ipynb)
         with open(ipynb) as f:
-            nb = reads(f.read(), 'json')
+            nb = nbformat.reads_json(f.read())
         test_notebook(nb)