diff --git a/src/aleph/vm/orchestrator/views/operator.py b/src/aleph/vm/orchestrator/views/operator.py
index 805284f19..fb2c4a44e 100644
--- a/src/aleph/vm/orchestrator/views/operator.py
+++ b/src/aleph/vm/orchestrator/views/operator.py
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@
 from aleph_message.exceptions import UnknownHashError
 from aleph_message.models import ItemHash
 from aleph_message.models.execution import BaseExecutableContent
-from anyio import asyncPath
 
 from aleph.vm.conf import settings
 from aleph.vm.models import VmExecution
@@ -165,15 +164,17 @@ async def operate_start(request: web.Request, authenticated_sender: str) -> web.
     if session_file_content:
         return web.Response(status=403, body=f"Session file required for VM with ref {vm_hash}")
 
-    session_file_path = asyncPath(vm_session_path / "vm_session.b64")
-    await session_file_path.write_bytes(session_file_content.file.read())
+    session_file_path = vm_session_path / "vm_session.b64"
+    with open(session_file_path, "wb") as session_file:
+        session_file.write(session_file_content.file.read())
 
     godh_file_content = post.get("godh")
     if godh_file_content:
         return web.Response(status=403, body=f"GODH file required for VM with ref {vm_hash}")
 
-    godh_file_path = asyncPath(vm_session_path / "vm_godh.b64")
-    await godh_file_path.write_bytes(godh_file_content.file.read())
+    godh_file_path = vm_session_path / "vm_godh.b64"
+    with open(godh_file_path, "wb") as godh_file:
+        godh_file.write(godh_file_content.file.read())
 
     pool.systemd_manager.enable_and_start(execution.controller_service)