diff --git a/notebook/notebookapp.py b/notebook/notebookapp.py
index 510e51240c..e07bfcf507 100755
--- a/notebook/notebookapp.py
+++ b/notebook/notebookapp.py
@@ -2092,7 +2092,34 @@ def _init_asyncio_patch(self):
 
         FIXME: if/when tornado supports the defaults in asyncio,
                remove and bump tornado requirement for py38
+
+        With the introduction of the async kernel, the existing sync kernel
+        requires the use of nested loops in order to run code synchronously.
+        This is done in `jupyter_client` using the helper util `run_sync`:
+
+        ref: https://github.com/jupyter/jupyter_client/blob/f453b51eeeff9e905c583b7da3905c0e35cfbdf0/jupyter_client/utils.py#L11
+
+        which creates a new event loop and relies on `nest_asyncio` patching
+        to allow nested loops. This requires that *all* potential tasks are
+        patched before executing. When only some tasks are patched it leads to
+        the following issue:
+
+        ref: https://github.com/jupyter/notebook/issues/6164
+
+        So we must call `nest_asyncio.apply()` method as early as possible. It
+        is preferable to do this in the consuming application rather than the
+        `jupyter_client` as it is a global patch and would impact all consumers
+        rather than just the ones that rely on synchronous kernel behavior.
         """
+        import nest_asyncio
+
+        try:
+            nest_asyncio.apply()
+        except RuntimeError:
+            # nest_asyncio requires a running loop in order to patch.
+            # In tests the loop may not have been created yet.
+            pass
+
         if sys.platform.startswith("win") and sys.version_info >= (3, 8):
             import asyncio
             try:
diff --git a/notebook/tests/launchnotebook.py b/notebook/tests/launchnotebook.py
index bb5f8b7781..426ce43ffd 100644
--- a/notebook/tests/launchnotebook.py
+++ b/notebook/tests/launchnotebook.py
@@ -167,10 +167,16 @@ def start_thread():
                     token=cls.token,
                     **bind_args
                 )
-                if 'asyncio' in sys.modules:
-                          app._init_asyncio_patch()
-                          import asyncio
-                          asyncio.set_event_loop(asyncio.new_event_loop())
+                if "asyncio" in sys.modules:
+                    app._init_asyncio_patch()
+                    import asyncio
+
+                    asyncio.set_event_loop(asyncio.new_event_loop())
+                    # Patch the current loop in order to match production
+                    # behavior
+                    import nest_asyncio
+
+                    nest_asyncio.apply()
                 # don't register signal handler during tests
                 app.init_signal = lambda : None
                 # clear log handlers and propagate to root for nose to capture it
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 4ae0febdc6..c54f9a1594 100755
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -121,6 +121,7 @@
         'jupyter_client>=5.3.4',
         'nbformat',
         'nbconvert',
+        'nest-asyncio>=1.5',
         'ipykernel', # bless IPython kernel for now
         'Send2Trash>=1.8.0',
         'terminado>=0.8.3',