diff --git a/pyflow/blocks/executableblock.py b/pyflow/blocks/executableblock.py
index 5b63c214..85f3be99 100644
--- a/pyflow/blocks/executableblock.py
+++ b/pyflow/blocks/executableblock.py
@@ -316,6 +316,9 @@ def run_blocks(self):
     def run_left(self):
         """Run all of the block's dependencies and then run the block."""
 
+        # Start kernel
+        self.scene().kernel.start()
+
         # Reset state to make sure that the self is run again
         self.run_state = ExecutableState.IDLE
 
@@ -339,6 +342,9 @@ def run_left(self):
     def run_right(self):
         """Run all of the output blocks and all their dependencies."""
 
+        # Start kernel
+        self.scene().kernel.start()
+
         # To avoid crashing when spamming the button
         if self.transmitting_queue:
             return
diff --git a/pyflow/core/kernel.py b/pyflow/core/kernel.py
index 93e2f886..302ea498 100644
--- a/pyflow/core/kernel.py
+++ b/pyflow/core/kernel.py
@@ -23,10 +23,39 @@ class Kernel:
 
     @log_init_time(LOGGER)
     def __init__(self):
-        self.kernel_manager, self.client = start_new_kernel()
+        self.client = None
+        self.kernel_manager = None
         self.execution_queue: List[Tuple["ExecutableBlock", str]] = []
         self.busy = False
 
+    def start(self):
+        """
+        Starts the kernel
+        """
+        # Check if client exists
+        if self.client is None:
+            self.kernel_manager, self.client = start_new_kernel()
+
+    def stop(self):
+        """
+        Stops the kernel
+        """
+        self.kernel_manager.shutdown_kernel()
+        self.client = None
+        self.kernel_manager = None
+
+    def interrupt(self):
+        """
+        Interrupts the kernel
+        """
+        self.kernel_manager.interrupt_kernel()
+
+    def restart(self):
+        """
+        Restarts the kernel
+        """
+        self.kernel_manager.restart_kernel()
+
     def message_to_output(self, message: dict) -> Tuple[str, str]:
         """
         Converts a message sent by the kernel into a relevant output
@@ -104,6 +133,7 @@ def execute(self, code: str) -> str:
         Return:
             output from the last message sent by the kernel
         """
+        self.start()
         _ = self.client.execute(code)
         done = False
         while not done:
diff --git a/pyflow/graphics/window.py b/pyflow/graphics/window.py
index b501a505..8beb7a33 100644
--- a/pyflow/graphics/window.py
+++ b/pyflow/graphics/window.py
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@
     QCheckBox,
 )
 
+from pyflow.blocks.executableblock import ExecutableBlock
+from pyflow.core.executable import ExecutableState
 from pyflow.graphics.widget import Widget
 from pyflow.graphics.theme_manager import theme_manager
 
@@ -224,6 +226,32 @@ def createActions(self):
         self._actSeparator = QAction(self)
         self._actSeparator.setSeparator(True)
 
+        # Kernel
+        self._actStartKernel = QAction(
+            "&Start Kernel",
+            self,
+            statusTip="Start the kernel",
+            triggered=self.start_kernel,
+        )
+        self._actInterruptKernel = QAction(
+            "&Interrupt Kernel",
+            self,
+            statusTip="Interrupt the kernel",
+            triggered=self.interrupt_kernel,
+        )
+        self._actStopKernel = QAction(
+            "&Stop Kernel",
+            self,
+            statusTip="Stop the kernel",
+            triggered=self.stop_kernel,
+        )
+        self._actRestartKernel = QAction(
+            "&Restart Kernel",
+            self,
+            statusTip="Restart the kernel",
+            triggered=self.restart_kernel,
+        )
+
     def createMenus(self):
         """Create the File menu with linked shortcuts."""
         self.filemenu = self.menuBar().addMenu("&File")
@@ -248,6 +276,12 @@ def createMenus(self):
         self.editmenu.addAction(self._actDuplicate)
         self.editmenu.addAction(self._actRun)
 
+        self.kernelMenu = self.menuBar().addMenu("&Kernel")
+        self.kernelMenu.addAction(self._actStartKernel)
+        self.kernelMenu.addAction(self._actInterruptKernel)
+        self.kernelMenu.addAction(self._actStopKernel)
+        self.kernelMenu.addAction(self._actRestartKernel)
+
         self.viewmenu = self.menuBar().addMenu("&View")
         self.thememenu = self.viewmenu.addMenu("Theme")
         self.thememenu.aboutToShow.connect(self.updateThemeMenu)
@@ -546,3 +580,45 @@ def onMoveToItems(self):
     def setTheme(self, theme_index):
         """Set the theme of the application."""
         theme_manager().selected_theme_index = theme_index
+
+    def start_kernel(self):
+        """Start the kernel."""
+        current_window = self._call_kernel("Kernel started")
+        if current_window is not None:
+            current_window.scene.kernel.start()
+
+    def interrupt_kernel(self):
+        """Interrupt the kernel."""
+        current_window = self._call_kernel("Kernel interrupted")
+        if current_window is not None:
+            current_window.scene.kernel.interrupt()
+
+    def stop_kernel(self):
+        """Stop the kernel."""
+        current_window = self._call_kernel("Kernel stopped")
+        if current_window is not None:
+            current_window.scene.kernel.stop()
+            self.reset_block_states()
+
+    def restart_kernel(self):
+        """Restart the kernel."""
+        current_window = self._call_kernel("Kernel restarted")
+        if current_window is not None:
+            current_window.scene.kernel.restart()
+            self.reset_block_states()
+
+    def _call_kernel(self, message):
+        """Call a kernel function but check if a kernel exists first"""
+        current_window = self.activeMdiChild()
+        if current_window is not None:
+            self.statusbar.showMessage(message)
+            return current_window
+        else:
+            self.statusbar.showMessage("No active window")
+            return None
+
+    def reset_block_states(self):
+        current_scene = self.activeMdiChild().scene
+        for item in current_scene.items():
+            if isinstance(item, ExecutableBlock):
+                item.run_state = ExecutableState.IDLE