diff --git a/src/xkernel_core.cpp b/src/xkernel_core.cpp
index d711c419..006cdafe 100644
--- a/src/xkernel_core.cpp
+++ b/src/xkernel_core.cpp
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ namespace xeus
                 }
 
                 // idle
-                publish_status("idle", request_context.header(), request_context.origin());
+                publish_status(request_context.header(), "idle", request_context.origin());
             };
 
             p_interpreter->execute_request(