diff --git a/python/ipywidgets/ipywidgets/widgets/widget_output.py b/python/ipywidgets/ipywidgets/widgets/widget_output.py
index 571dace844..150ac93471 100644
--- a/python/ipywidgets/ipywidgets/widgets/widget_output.py
+++ b/python/ipywidgets/ipywidgets/widgets/widget_output.py
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ def __enter__(self):
         kernel = None
         if ip and getattr(ip, "kernel", None) is not None:
             kernel = ip.kernel
-        elif self.comm is not None and getattr(self.comm, 'kernel', True) is not None:
+        elif self.comm is not None and getattr(self.comm, 'kernel', None) is not None:
             kernel = self.comm.kernel
 
         if kernel: