diff --git a/gns3server/handlers/project_handler.py b/gns3server/handlers/project_handler.py
index 1ce30c18..e72396f3 100644
--- a/gns3server/handlers/project_handler.py
+++ b/gns3server/handlers/project_handler.py
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ class ProjectHandler:
 
         pm = ProjectManager.instance()
         project = pm.get_project(request.match_info["uuid"])
-        project.commit()
+        yield from project.commit()
         response.set_status(204)
 
     @classmethod
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ class ProjectHandler:
 
         pm = ProjectManager.instance()
         project = pm.get_project(request.match_info["uuid"])
-        project.close()
+        yield from project.close()
         response.set_status(204)
 
     @classmethod
@@ -128,5 +128,5 @@ class ProjectHandler:
 
         pm = ProjectManager.instance()
         project = pm.get_project(request.match_info["uuid"])
-        project.delete()
+        yield from project.delete()
         response.set_status(204)
diff --git a/gns3server/modules/project.py b/gns3server/modules/project.py
index ca29aa93..4d174c45 100644
--- a/gns3server/modules/project.py
+++ b/gns3server/modules/project.py
@@ -19,9 +19,11 @@ import aiohttp
 import os
 import tempfile
 import shutil
+import asyncio
 from uuid import UUID, uuid4
-from ..config import Config
 
+from ..config import Config
+from ..utils.asyncio import wait_run_in_executor
 
 import logging
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -176,11 +178,13 @@ class Project:
         if vm in self._vms:
             self._vms.remove(vm)
 
+    @asyncio.coroutine
     def close(self):
         """Close the project, but keep informations on disk"""
 
-        self._close_and_clean(self._temporary)
+        yield from self._close_and_clean(self._temporary)
 
+    @asyncio.coroutine
     def _close_and_clean(self, cleanup):
         """
         Close the project, and cleanup the disk if cleanup is True
@@ -191,8 +195,9 @@ class Project:
         for vm in self._vms:
             vm.close()
         if cleanup and os.path.exists(self.path):
-            shutil.rmtree(self.path)
+            yield from wait_run_in_executor(shutil.rmtree, self.path)
 
+    @asyncio.coroutine
     def commit(self):
         """Write project changes on disk"""
 
@@ -200,10 +205,11 @@ class Project:
             vm = self._vms_to_destroy.pop()
             directory = self.vm_working_directory(vm)
             if os.path.exists(directory):
-                shutil.rmtree(directory)
+                yield from wait_run_in_executor(shutil.rmtree, directory)
             self.remove_vm(vm)
 
+    @asyncio.coroutine
     def delete(self):
         """Remove project from disk"""
 
-        self._close_and_clean(True)
+        yield from self._close_and_clean(True)
diff --git a/gns3server/utils/asyncio.py b/gns3server/utils/asyncio.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9b94eaf0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gns3server/utils/asyncio.py
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+#
+# Copyright (C) 2015 GNS3 Technologies Inc.
+#
+# This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+# along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+
+import asyncio
+
+
+@asyncio.coroutine
+def wait_run_in_executor(func, *args):
+    """
+    Run blocking code in a different thread and wait
+    the result.
+
+    :param func: Run this function in a different thread
+    :param args: Parameters of the function
+    :returns: Return the result of the function
+    """
+
+    loop = asyncio.get_event_loop()
+    future = loop.run_in_executor(None, func, *args)
+    yield from asyncio.wait([future])
+    return future.result()
diff --git a/tests/modules/test_project.py b/tests/modules/test_project.py
index 909a09b6..c267a690 100644
--- a/tests/modules/test_project.py
+++ b/tests/modules/test_project.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 import os
+import asyncio
 import pytest
 import aiohttp
 from unittest.mock import patch
@@ -84,7 +85,7 @@ def test_mark_vm_for_destruction(vm):
     assert len(project.vms) == 0
 
 
-def test_commit(manager):
+def test_commit(manager, loop):
     project = Project()
     vm = VPCSVM("test", "00010203-0405-0607-0809-0a0b0c0d0e0f", project, manager)
     project.add_vm(vm)
@@ -92,17 +93,17 @@ def test_commit(manager):
     project.mark_vm_for_destruction(vm)
     assert len(project._vms_to_destroy) == 1
     assert os.path.exists(directory)
-    project.commit()
+    loop.run_until_complete(asyncio.async(project.commit()))
     assert len(project._vms_to_destroy) == 0
     assert os.path.exists(directory) is False
     assert len(project.vms) == 0
 
 
-def test_project_delete():
+def test_project_delete(loop):
     project = Project()
     directory = project.path
     assert os.path.exists(directory)
-    project.delete()
+    loop.run_until_complete(asyncio.async(project.delete()))
     assert os.path.exists(directory) is False
 
 
@@ -113,22 +114,22 @@ def test_project_add_vm(manager):
     assert len(project.vms) == 1
 
 
-def test_project_close(manager):
+def test_project_close(loop, manager):
     project = Project()
     vm = VPCSVM("test", "00010203-0405-0607-0809-0a0b0c0d0e0f", project, manager)
     project.add_vm(vm)
     with patch("gns3server.modules.vpcs.vpcs_vm.VPCSVM.close") as mock:
-        project.close()
+        loop.run_until_complete(asyncio.async(project.close()))
         assert mock.called
 
 
-def test_project_close_temporary_project(manager):
+def test_project_close_temporary_project(loop, manager):
     """A temporary project is deleted when closed"""
 
     project = Project(temporary=True)
     directory = project.path
     assert os.path.exists(directory)
-    project.close()
+    loop.run_until_complete(asyncio.async(project.close()))
     assert os.path.exists(directory) is False
 
 
diff --git a/tests/utils/test_asyncio.py b/tests/utils/test_asyncio.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a6a9cc3e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/utils/test_asyncio.py
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+#
+# Copyright (C) 2015 GNS3 Technologies Inc.
+#
+# This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+# along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+
+import asyncio
+import pytest
+
+from gns3server.utils.asyncio import wait_run_in_executor
+
+
+def test_wait_run_in_executor(loop):
+
+    def change_var(param):
+        return param
+
+    exec = wait_run_in_executor(change_var, "test")
+    result = loop.run_until_complete(asyncio.async(exec))
+    assert result == "test"
+
+
+def test_exception_wait_run_in_executor(loop):
+
+    def raise_exception():
+        raise Exception("test")
+
+    exec = wait_run_in_executor(raise_exception)
+    with pytest.raises(Exception):
+        result = loop.run_until_complete(asyncio.async(exec))