diff --git a/backend/src/event-handlers/rollup.js b/backend/src/event-handlers/rollup.js
index b94ce8e..0f278d6 100644
--- a/backend/src/event-handlers/rollup.js
+++ b/backend/src/event-handlers/rollup.js
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ const start = async () => {
       } catch (e) {
         if (e.status === 404) {
           console.log('sending matrix pool start event');
-          const { roomId, eventId } = sendMatrixEvent('io.dgov.pool.start', {
+          const { roomId, eventId } = await sendMatrixEvent('io.dgov.pool.start', {
             postId,
             ...params,
           });