diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yml b/.github/workflows/test.yml
index 9be2f1cb2..6445cac1d 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yml
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ env:
 
 jobs:
   test:
-    runs-on: ${{ matrix.runs_on || 'ubuntu-20.04' }}
+    runs-on: ${{ matrix.runs_on || 'ubuntu-22.04' }}
     timeout-minutes: 20
 
     strategy:
@@ -42,8 +42,8 @@ jobs:
           - python: "3.9"
             env:
               IPP_ENABLE_CURVE: "1"
-          - python: "3.8"
-            runs_on: windows-2019
+          - python: "3.9"
+            runs_on: windows-2022
           - python: "3.9"
             runs_on: macos-14
           - python: "3.11"
diff --git a/docs/source/changelog.md b/docs/source/changelog.md
index a92264358..77f782b33 100644
--- a/docs/source/changelog.md
+++ b/docs/source/changelog.md
@@ -6,6 +6,12 @@ Changes in IPython Parallel
 
 ## 9.0
 
+### 9.0.2 - 2025-10
+
+([full changelog](https://github.com/ipython/ipyparallel/compare/9.0.1...9.0.2))
+
+9.0.2 fixes compatibility with upcoming ipykernel 7 (as of alpha 3).
+
 ### 9.0.1 - 2025-03
 
 ([full changelog](https://github.com/ipython/ipyparallel/compare/9.0.0...9.0.1))
diff --git a/docs/source/conf.py b/docs/source/conf.py
index 87293bae0..36c08f7dd 100644
--- a/docs/source/conf.py
+++ b/docs/source/conf.py
@@ -384,6 +384,10 @@
     "https://github.com/search",  # github search links
     "https://github.com/ipython/ipyparallel/compare/",  # too many comparisons in changelog
     r"https?://(localhost|127.0.0.1).*",  # ignore localhost references in auto-links
+    # requests from CI blocked
+    r"https://www.mcs.anl.gov/.*",
+    r"https://www.mcs.anl.gov/.*",
+    r"https://urn.nb.no/.*",
 ]
 
 # myst_nb execution
diff --git a/docs/source/tutorial/intro.md b/docs/source/tutorial/intro.md
index 6d3a71a98..0cecbb946 100644
--- a/docs/source/tutorial/intro.md
+++ b/docs/source/tutorial/intro.md
@@ -228,7 +228,6 @@ The {class}`~.ipyparallel.Cluster` and {class}`~.ipyparallel.Client` classes can
 for easier cleanup of resources.
 
 - Entering a `Cluster` context
-
   1. starts the cluster
   2. waits for engines to be ready
   3. connects a client
diff --git a/ipyparallel/engine/app.py b/ipyparallel/engine/app.py
index 9028f400e..6626fc614 100755
--- a/ipyparallel/engine/app.py
+++ b/ipyparallel/engine/app.py
@@ -720,17 +720,13 @@ def send_with_metadata(
                 kernel_kwargs["control_thread"] = control_thread = ControlThread(
                     daemon=True
                 )
-            if ipykernel.version_info >= (7,):
-                kernel_kwargs["shell_socket"] = zmq.asyncio.Socket(shell_socket)
-                kernel_kwargs["control_socket"] = zmq.asyncio.Socket(control_socket)
-            else:
-                # Kernel.start starts control thread in kernel 7
-                control_thread.start()
-                kernel_kwargs["control_stream"] = zmqstream.ZMQStream(
-                    control_socket, control_thread.io_loop
-                )
 
-                kernel_kwargs["shell_streams"] = [zmqstream.ZMQStream(shell_socket)]
+            control_thread.start()
+            kernel_kwargs["control_stream"] = zmqstream.ZMQStream(
+                control_socket, control_thread.io_loop
+            )
+
+            kernel_kwargs["shell_streams"] = [zmqstream.ZMQStream(shell_socket)]
 
             self.kernel = Kernel.instance(
                 parent=self,
@@ -954,12 +950,7 @@ def initialize(self, argv=None):
         self.forward_logging()
 
     def init_signal(self):
-        if ipykernel.version_info >= (7,):
-            # ipykernel 7 changes SIGINT handling
-            # to the app instead of the kernel
-            self.kernel_app.init_signal()
-        else:
-            signal.signal(signal.SIGINT, self._signal_sigint)
+        signal.signal(signal.SIGINT, self._signal_sigint)
         signal.signal(signal.SIGTERM, self._signal_stop)
 
     def _signal_sigint(self, sig, frame):
diff --git a/ipyparallel/nbextension/static/clusterlist.js b/ipyparallel/nbextension/static/clusterlist.js
index b7e1cc240..07d0e6205 100644
--- a/ipyparallel/nbextension/static/clusterlist.js
+++ b/ipyparallel/nbextension/static/clusterlist.js
@@ -199,8 +199,8 @@ define(["base/js/namespace", "jquery", "base/js/utils"], function (
           that.cluster_list.load_list();
         },
         error: function (xhr, status, error) {
-          utils.log_ajax_error(xhr, status, error),
-            status_col.text("error stopping cluster");
+          (utils.log_ajax_error(xhr, status, error),
+            status_col.text("error stopping cluster"));
         },
       };
       status_col.text("stopping");