diff --git a/crates/driver/src/core.rs b/crates/driver/src/core.rs
index f42027571..7fc73e2e4 100644
--- a/crates/driver/src/core.rs
+++ b/crates/driver/src/core.rs
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ where
             };
 
             self.executor.update_safe_head(self.cursor.l2_safe_head_header().clone());
-            let header = match self.executor.execute_payload(attributes.clone()) {
+            let header = match self.executor.execute_payload(attributes.clone()).await {
                 Ok(header) => header,
                 Err(e) => {
                     error!(target: "client", "Failed to execute L2 block: {}", e);
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ where
 
                         // Retry the execution.
                         self.executor.update_safe_head(self.cursor.l2_safe_head_header().clone());
-                        match self.executor.execute_payload(attributes.clone()) {
+                        match self.executor.execute_payload(attributes.clone()).await {
                             Ok(header) => header,
                             Err(e) => {
                                 error!(
diff --git a/crates/driver/src/executor.rs b/crates/driver/src/executor.rs
index c099db14c..2e57ca54f 100644
--- a/crates/driver/src/executor.rs
+++ b/crates/driver/src/executor.rs
@@ -27,7 +27,10 @@ pub trait Executor {
     fn update_safe_head(&mut self, header: Sealed<Header>);
 
     /// Execute the gicen [OpPayloadAttributes].
-    fn execute_payload(&mut self, attributes: OpPayloadAttributes) -> Result<&Header, Self::Error>;
+    async fn execute_payload(
+        &mut self,
+        attributes: OpPayloadAttributes,
+    ) -> Result<Header, Self::Error>;
 
     /// Computes the output root.
     /// Expected to be called after the payload has been executed.
diff --git a/crates/proof-sdk/proof/src/executor.rs b/crates/proof-sdk/proof/src/executor.rs
index 6c66eb31d..3ceaaba0a 100644
--- a/crates/proof-sdk/proof/src/executor.rs
+++ b/crates/proof-sdk/proof/src/executor.rs
@@ -79,11 +79,17 @@ where
     }
 
     /// Execute the given payload attributes.
-    fn execute_payload(&mut self, attributes: OpPayloadAttributes) -> Result<&Header, Self::Error> {
-        self.inner.as_mut().map_or_else(
-            || Err(kona_executor::ExecutorError::MissingExecutor),
-            |e| e.execute_payload(attributes),
-        )
+    async fn execute_payload(
+        &mut self,
+        attributes: OpPayloadAttributes,
+    ) -> Result<Header, Self::Error> {
+        self.inner
+            .as_mut()
+            .map_or_else(
+                || Err(kona_executor::ExecutorError::MissingExecutor),
+                |e| e.execute_payload(attributes),
+            )
+            .cloned()
     }
 
     /// Computes the output root.