diff --git a/dev-python/ipykernel/ipykernel-4.6.1-r2.ebuild b/dev-python/ipykernel/ipykernel-4.6.1-r2.ebuild
index e3f9e55a1ce38..9f289635340f9 100644
--- a/dev-python/ipykernel/ipykernel-4.6.1-r2.ebuild
+++ b/dev-python/ipykernel/ipykernel-4.6.1-r2.ebuild
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ python_install() {
 	distutils-r1_python_install
 
 	# bug 628222, specify python 2 or 3.
-	sed -e "s:python:${EPYTHON%.*}:" \
+	sed -e "/language/!s:python:${EPYTHON%.*}:" \
 		-i "${ED}"usr/share/jupyter/kernels/${EPYTHON%.*}/kernel.json || die
 }
 
diff --git a/dev-python/ipykernel/ipykernel-4.8.2.ebuild b/dev-python/ipykernel/ipykernel-4.8.2.ebuild
index 200a48df55444..32532b13c76bf 100644
--- a/dev-python/ipykernel/ipykernel-4.8.2.ebuild
+++ b/dev-python/ipykernel/ipykernel-4.8.2.ebuild
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ python_install() {
 	distutils-r1_python_install
 
 	# bug 628222, specify python 2 or 3.
-	sed -e "s:python:${EPYTHON%.*}:" \
+	sed -e "/language/!s:python:${EPYTHON%.*}:" \
 		-i "${ED}"usr/share/jupyter/kernels/${EPYTHON%.*}/kernel.json || die
 }
 
diff --git a/dev-python/ipykernel/ipykernel-5.1.0.ebuild b/dev-python/ipykernel/ipykernel-5.1.0.ebuild
index cf43e216a89b1..85f606682f6da 100644
--- a/dev-python/ipykernel/ipykernel-5.1.0.ebuild
+++ b/dev-python/ipykernel/ipykernel-5.1.0.ebuild
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ python_install() {
 	distutils-r1_python_install
 
 	# bug 628222, specify python 2 or 3.
-	sed -e "s:python:${EPYTHON%.*}:" \
+	sed -e "/language/!s:python:${EPYTHON%.*}:" \
 		-i "${ED}"usr/share/jupyter/kernels/${EPYTHON%.*}/kernel.json || die
 }