diff --git a/sparkmagic/sparkmagic/serverextension/handlers.py b/sparkmagic/sparkmagic/serverextension/handlers.py
index c94a258ca..0afd7a124 100644
--- a/sparkmagic/sparkmagic/serverextension/handlers.py
+++ b/sparkmagic/sparkmagic/serverextension/handlers.py
@@ -94,9 +94,13 @@ def _get_argument_or_raise(self, data, key):
         except KeyError:
             raise MissingArgumentError(key)
 
+    def _get_list_sessions(self):
+        sessions = self.session_manager.list_sessions()
+        return [session for session in sessions.result]
+
     @gen.coroutine
     def _get_kernel_manager(self, path, kernel_name):
-        sessions = self.session_manager.list_sessions()
+        sessions = self._get_list_sessions()
 
         kernel_id = None
         for session in sessions:
diff --git a/sparkmagic/sparkmagic/tests/test_handlers.py b/sparkmagic/sparkmagic/tests/test_handlers.py
index 4d01734fd..fef95c957 100644
--- a/sparkmagic/sparkmagic/tests/test_handlers.py
+++ b/sparkmagic/sparkmagic/tests/test_handlers.py
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ def setUp(self):
         self.kernel_manager.get_kernel = MagicMock(return_value=self.individual_kernel_manager)
 
         # Mock session manager
-        self.session_list = [self.create_session_dict(self.path, self.kernel_id)]
+        self.session_list = MagicMock(return_value=[self.create_session_dict(self.path, self.kernel_id)])
         self.session_manager = MagicMock()
         self.session_manager.list_sessions = MagicMock(return_value=self.session_list)
         self.session_manager.create_session = MagicMock(return_value=self.create_session_dict(self.path, self.kernel_id))
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ def setUp(self):
         # Create mocked reconnect_handler
         ReconnectHandler.__bases__ = (SimpleObject,)
         self.reconnect_handler = ReconnectHandler()
+        self.reconnect_handler._get_list_sessions = self.session_list
         self.reconnect_handler.spark_events = self.spark_events
         self.reconnect_handler.session_manager = self.session_manager
         self.reconnect_handler.kernel_manager = self.kernel_manager