diff --git a/jupyter_console/ptshell.py b/jupyter_console/ptshell.py
index 4943dab..a4a30b4 100644
--- a/jupyter_console/ptshell.py
+++ b/jupyter_console/ptshell.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 
 from zmq import ZMQError
 from IPython.core import page
+from IPython.core.interactiveshell import SeparateUnicode
 from traitlets import (
     Bool,
     Integer,
@@ -325,6 +326,10 @@ class ZMQTerminalInteractiveShell(SingletonConfigurable):
         config=True
     )
 
+    separate_in = SeparateUnicode('\n').tag(config=True)
+    separate_out = SeparateUnicode('\n').tag(config=True)
+    separate_out2 = SeparateUnicode('\n').tag(config=True)
+
     manager = Instance("jupyter_client.KernelManager", allow_none=True)
     client = Instance("jupyter_client.KernelClient", allow_none=True)
 
@@ -398,6 +403,7 @@ def get_out_prompt_tokens(self):
         ]
 
     def print_out_prompt(self):
+        sys.stdout.write(self.separate_out)
         tokens = self.get_out_prompt_tokens()
         print_formatted_text(PygmentsTokens(tokens), end='',
                              style = self.pt_cli.app.style)
@@ -636,7 +642,7 @@ def set_doc():
 
     async def interact(self, loop=None, display_banner=None):
         while self.keep_running:
-            print('\n', end='')
+            print(self.separate_in, end='')
 
             try:
                 code = await self.prompt_for_code()
@@ -900,6 +906,7 @@ def handle_iopub(self, msg_id=''):
                         # For multi-line results, start a new line after prompt
                         print()
                     print(text_repr)
+                    sys.stdout.write(self.separate_out2)
 
                     # Remote: add new prompt
                     if not self.from_here(sub_msg):
diff --git a/jupyter_console/tests/test_console.py b/jupyter_console/tests/test_console.py
index 83b5ee6..45ac47c 100644
--- a/jupyter_console/tests/test_console.py
+++ b/jupyter_console/tests/test_console.py
@@ -25,7 +25,26 @@ def test_console_starts():
     p, pexpect, t = start_console()
     p.sendline("5")
     p.expect([r"Out\[\d+\]: 5", pexpect.EOF], timeout=t)
-    p.expect([r"In \[\d+\]", pexpect.EOF], timeout=t)
+    p.expect(["\n", "\n", r"In \[\d+\]", pexpect.EOF], timeout=t)
+    stop_console(p, pexpect, t)
+
+@flaky
+@pytest.mark.skipif(should_skip, reason="not supported")
+def test_console_starts_nonl():
+    """test that `jupyter console` starts a terminal"""
+    p, pexpect, t = start_console(['--ZMQTerminalInteractiveShell.separate_in=""'])
+    p.sendline("5")
+    p.expect([r"Out\[\d+\]: 5", pexpect.EOF], timeout=t)
+    p.expect([r"(?<!\n)\n", r"In \[\d+\]", pexpect.EOF], timeout=t)
+    stop_console(p, pexpect, t)
+
+@pytest.mark.xfail(reason='testing the regex to p.expect',strict=True)
+def test_console_starts_nonl_correct_matcher():
+    """test that `jupyter console` starts a terminal"""
+    p, pexpect, t = start_console()
+    p.sendline("5")
+    p.expect([r"Out\[\d+\]: 5", pexpect.EOF], timeout=t)
+    p.expect([r"(?<!\n)\n", r"In \[\d+\]", pexpect.EOF], timeout=2)
     stop_console(p, pexpect, t)
 
 def test_help_output():
@@ -59,11 +78,11 @@ def stop_console(p, pexpect, t):
         p.terminate()
 
 
-def start_console():
+def start_console(args=()):
     "Start `jupyter console` using pexpect"
     import pexpect
     
-    args = ['-m', 'jupyter_console', '--colors=NoColor']
+    args = ['-m', 'jupyter_console', '--colors=NoColor'] + list(args)
     cmd = sys.executable
     env = os.environ.copy()
     env["JUPYTER_CONSOLE_TEST"] = "1"