diff --git a/components/server/src/workspace/workspace-service.ts b/components/server/src/workspace/workspace-service.ts
index 7f756900cb6f35..39f55f7364b888 100644
--- a/components/server/src/workspace/workspace-service.ts
+++ b/components/server/src/workspace/workspace-service.ts
@@ -901,7 +901,7 @@ export class WorkspaceService {
 
     public async resolveBaseImage(ctx: TraceContext, user: User, imageRef: string) {
         try {
-            return this.workspaceStarter.resolveBaseImage(ctx, user, imageRef);
+            return await this.workspaceStarter.resolveBaseImage(ctx, user, imageRef);
         } catch (e) {
             // we could map proper response message according to e.code
             // see https://github.com/gitpod-io/gitpod/blob/ef95e6f3ca0bf314c40da1b83251423c2208d175/components/image-builder-mk3/pkg/orchestrator/orchestrator_test.go#L178