diff --git a/impala/hiveserver2.py b/impala/hiveserver2.py
index 4835b4cc7..2b31baea2 100644
--- a/impala/hiveserver2.py
+++ b/impala/hiveserver2.py
@@ -280,7 +280,8 @@ def op():
                 self._last_operation_string = operation
 
             op = self.session.execute(self._last_operation_string,
-                                      configuration)
+                                      configuration,
+                                      async=True)
             self._last_operation = op
 
         self._execute_async(op)