diff --git a/api/src/opentrons/protocol_runner/protocol_runner.py b/api/src/opentrons/protocol_runner/protocol_runner.py
index 00cb999ee1c..ad10149eccf 100644
--- a/api/src/opentrons/protocol_runner/protocol_runner.py
+++ b/api/src/opentrons/protocol_runner/protocol_runner.py
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ async def run(
         # TODO(mc, 2022-01-11): move load to runner creation, remove from `run`
         # currently `protocol_source` arg is only used by tests
         if protocol_source:
-            self.load(protocol_source)
+            await self.load(protocol_source)
 
         self.play()
         self._task_queue.start()