diff --git a/client/src/nv_ingest_client/client/interface.py b/client/src/nv_ingest_client/client/interface.py
index 8846ffd3..d503beee 100644
--- a/client/src/nv_ingest_client/client/interface.py
+++ b/client/src/nv_ingest_client/client/interface.py
@@ -293,13 +293,12 @@ def _done_callback(future):
         for future in future_to_job_id:
             future.add_done_callback(_done_callback)
 
-        results = combined_future.result()
         if self._vdb_bulk_upload:
-            self._vdb_bulk_upload.run(results)
+            self._vdb_bulk_upload.run(combined_future.result())
             # only upload as part of jobs user specified this action
             self._vdb_bulk_upload = None
 
-        return results
+        return combined_future
 
     @ensure_job_specs
     def _prepare_ingest_run(self):
diff --git a/tests/nv_ingest_client/client/test_interface.py b/tests/nv_ingest_client/client/test_interface.py
index e6c8721c..fc1f1780 100644
--- a/tests/nv_ingest_client/client/test_interface.py
+++ b/tests/nv_ingest_client/client/test_interface.py
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ def test_ingest_async(ingestor, mock_client):
         ["result_1"] if job_id == "job_id_1" else ["result_2"]
     )
 
-    combined_result = ingestor.ingest_async(timeout=15)
+    combined_result = ingestor.ingest_async(timeout=15).result()
     assert combined_result == ["result_1", "result_2"]