It's two wins in a row and eight league games unbeaten for the reigning champions, who almost threw away a 4-1 lead at home to Ilves, whose own two-game winning run came to an end.
KuPS knew they would not have to work for the points midway through the first half, as when they took the lead through Valentin Gasc, Oliver Pettersson got the visitors level just a minute later.
But work they did, with three goals in the final 15 minutes of the first 45 - Bob Armah restored the advantage, before Gustav Engvall and Petteri Pennanen put them clear going into the break.
However, Ilves won themselves a penalty which Jardell Kanga converted nine minutes after the break, before Joona Veteli made it a one-goal game again just after the hour mark. The Tampere side dominated the second-half chances, but couldn't salvage a point late on, keeping them eighth in the table.
Conceding those two goals after half-time are keeping the Kuopio side off top spot, as their goal difference stands at +8, compared to +9 of Inter Turku.
AC Oulu's great start to the season completely derailed with a heavy defeat away at VPS, ending a run of four wins and a draw in their last five, while the Vaasa side climbed to fifth, going three games unbeaten. Oulu drop to third but can take comfort from only being two points off the top.
Kalifa Jatta put the away side in front, but from then on it was all VPS, who were 3-1 up by half-time courtesy of Lassana Mane, Jayden Turfkruier and Antti-Ville Raisanen. The evening got worse for Oulu when Johan Lietsa was sent off in the 61st minute, before Martti Haukioja soon added another goal and Olavi Keturi rounded off a great VPS performance late on.
It's a fourth draw in a row for Inter Turku, who are clinging on to first place in the league table after coming from behind at home to SJK. Kasper Paananen put the away side into an unlikely lead 10 minutes before the break, and though Janna-Pekka Laine levelled only two minutes into the second half, FC Inter were again unable to push on for all three points.
HJK returned to winning ways and are now four league games unbeaten after cruising past Mariehamn, who remain winless and five without a point. Teemu Pukki rolled back the years to put his side in front in the first half, before Mads Borchers and Lassi Lappalainen made it more comfortable approaching the midpoint of the second half, then Lappalainen made it a brace for himself late on.
Gnistan maintained their top-half status with a point at Jaro, but it could have been more after Saku Ylatupa gave them the lead in the 14th minute. However, the Helsinki side were unable to stretch their winning run to four, as Rudi Vikstrom equalised early in the second half to end Jaro's three-game losing streak. The home side stay 11th, four points clear of Mariehamn.
There were no goals when the promoted sides met in Lahti. TPS created the better chances, but a point apiece ends both teams' two-game losing runs but sees both remain three without a win. TPS stay seventh, with Lahti two places behind.