diff --git a/notebook/files/handlers.py b/notebook/files/handlers.py
index 7973fd6914..1da0ad71d4 100644
--- a/notebook/files/handlers.py
+++ b/notebook/files/handlers.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
     from base64 import decodestring as decodebytes
 
 
-from tornado import web
+from tornado import gen, web
 
 from notebook.base.handlers import IPythonHandler
 
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ def get(self, path, include_body=True):
         else:
             name = path
         
-        model = cm.get(path, type='file', content=include_body)
+        model = yield gen.maybe_future(cm.get(path, type='file', content=include_body))
         
         if self.get_argument("download", False):
             self.set_attachment_header(name)
diff --git a/notebook/services/contents/handlers.py b/notebook/services/contents/handlers.py
index 25dcaf213c..8756ae60c5 100644
--- a/notebook/services/contents/handlers.py
+++ b/notebook/services/contents/handlers.py
@@ -182,10 +182,12 @@ def post(self, path=''):
 
         cm = self.contents_manager
 
-        if cm.file_exists(path):
+        file_exists = yield gen.maybe_future(cm.file_exists(path))
+        if file_exists:
             raise web.HTTPError(400, "Cannot POST to files, use PUT instead.")
 
-        if not cm.dir_exists(path):
+        dir_exists = yield gen.maybe_future(cm.dir_exists(path))
+        if not dir_exists:
             raise web.HTTPError(404, "No such directory: %s" % path)
 
         model = self.get_json_body()