diff --git a/notebook/files/handlers.py b/notebook/files/handlers.py
index 192de1f923..3b2570a185 100644
--- a/notebook/files/handlers.py
+++ b/notebook/files/handlers.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 import json
 from base64 import decodebytes
 
-from tornado import web
+from tornado import  gen, web
 
 from notebook.base.handlers import IPythonHandler
 from notebook.utils import maybe_future
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ def head(self, path):
         return self.get(path, include_body=False)
 
     @web.authenticated
+    @gen.coroutine
     def get(self, path, include_body=True):
         # /files/ requests must originate from the same site
         self.check_xsrf_cookie()