diff --git a/gns3server/handlers/api/project_handler.py b/gns3server/handlers/api/project_handler.py
index a67d9c57..85257423 100644
--- a/gns3server/handlers/api/project_handler.py
+++ b/gns3server/handlers/api/project_handler.py
@@ -84,9 +84,11 @@ class ProjectHandler:
         project.name = request.json.get("name", project.name)
         project_path = request.json.get("path", project.path)
         if project_path != project.path:
+            old_path = project.path
             project.path = project_path
             for module in MODULES:
                 yield from module.instance().project_moved(project)
+            yield from project.clean_old_path(old_path)
         # Very important we need to remove temporary flag after moving the project
         project.temporary = request.json.get("temporary", project.temporary)
         response.json(project)
diff --git a/gns3server/modules/project.py b/gns3server/modules/project.py
index 7018d1b7..0c87cc37 100644
--- a/gns3server/modules/project.py
+++ b/gns3server/modules/project.py
@@ -146,11 +146,15 @@ class Project:
         self._path = path
         self._update_temporary_file()
 
-        # The order of operation is important because we want to avoid losing
-        # data
-        if old_path:
+    @asyncio.coroutine
+    def clean_old_path(self, old_path):
+        """
+        Called after a project location change. All the modules should
+        have been notified before
+        """
+        if self._temporary:
             try:
-                shutil.rmtree(old_path)
+                yield from wait_run_in_executor(shutil.rmtree, old_path)
             except OSError as e:
                 log.warn("Can't remove temporary directory {}: {}".format(old_path, e))
 
diff --git a/tests/handlers/api/test_project.py b/tests/handlers/api/test_project.py
index cd0bc419..6f255221 100644
--- a/tests/handlers/api/test_project.py
+++ b/tests/handlers/api/test_project.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ This test suite check /project endpoint
 """
 
 import uuid
+import os
 from unittest.mock import patch
 from tests.utils import asyncio_patch
 
@@ -85,18 +86,43 @@ def test_update_temporary_project(server):
     assert response.json["temporary"] is False
 
 
-def test_update_path_project(server, tmpdir):
+def test_update_path_project_temporary(server, tmpdir):
+
+    os.makedirs(str(tmpdir / "a"))
+    os.makedirs(str(tmpdir / "b"))
 
     with patch("gns3server.modules.project.Project.is_local", return_value=True):
-        response = server.post("/projects", {"name": "first_name"})
+        response = server.post("/projects", {"name": "first_name", "path": str(tmpdir / "a"), "temporary": True})
         assert response.status == 201
         assert response.json["name"] == "first_name"
-        query = {"name": "second_name", "path": str(tmpdir)}
+        query = {"name": "second_name", "path": str(tmpdir / "b")}
         response = server.put("/projects/{project_id}".format(project_id=response.json["project_id"]), query, example=True)
         assert response.status == 200
-        assert response.json["path"] == str(tmpdir)
+        assert response.json["path"] == str(tmpdir / "b")
+        assert response.json["name"] == "second_name"
+
+        assert not os.path.exists(str(tmpdir / "a"))
+        assert os.path.exists(str(tmpdir / "b"))
+
+
+def test_update_path_project_non_temporary(server, tmpdir):
+
+    os.makedirs(str(tmpdir / "a"))
+    os.makedirs(str(tmpdir / "b"))
+
+    with patch("gns3server.modules.project.Project.is_local", return_value=True):
+        response = server.post("/projects", {"name": "first_name", "path": str(tmpdir / "a")})
+        assert response.status == 201
+        assert response.json["name"] == "first_name"
+        query = {"name": "second_name", "path": str(tmpdir / "b")}
+        response = server.put("/projects/{project_id}".format(project_id=response.json["project_id"]), query, example=True)
+        assert response.status == 200
+        assert response.json["path"] == str(tmpdir / "b")
         assert response.json["name"] == "second_name"
 
+        assert os.path.exists(str(tmpdir / "a"))
+        assert os.path.exists(str(tmpdir / "b"))
+
 
 def test_update_path_project_non_local(server, tmpdir):
 
diff --git a/tests/modules/test_project.py b/tests/modules/test_project.py
index c4eaee4b..68896361 100644
--- a/tests/modules/test_project.py
+++ b/tests/modules/test_project.py
@@ -73,10 +73,6 @@ def test_changing_path_temporary_flag(tmpdir):
         assert os.path.exists(os.path.join(p.path, ".gns3_temporary"))
 
         p.path = str(tmpdir)
-        p.temporary = False
-        assert not os.path.exists(os.path.join(p.path, ".gns3_temporary"))
-        assert not os.path.exists(os.path.join(str(tmpdir), ".gns3_temporary"))
-        assert not os.path.exists(original_path)
 
 
 def test_temporary_path():