diff --git a/voila/handler.py b/voila/handler.py
index ac04dc1a2..f7d77f25b 100644
--- a/voila/handler.py
+++ b/voila/handler.py
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ async def _jinja_cell_generator(self, nb, kernel_id):
                 yield output_cell
 
     async def load_notebook(self, path):
-        model = self.contents_manager.get(path=path)
+        model = await ensure_async(self.contents_manager.get(path=path))
         if 'content' not in model:
             raise tornado.web.HTTPError(404, 'file not found')
         __, extension = os.path.splitext(model.get('path', ''))