diff --git a/codex/blockexchange/engine/engine.nim b/codex/blockexchange/engine/engine.nim
index 69fda741..7d9415d6 100644
--- a/codex/blockexchange/engine/engine.nim
+++ b/codex/blockexchange/engine/engine.nim
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ proc blockPresenceHandler*(
     .filter do(cid: Cid) -> bool:
       not b.peers.anyIt( cid in it.peerHave ))
 
-proc scheduleTasks(b: BlockExcEngine, blocks: seq[bt.Block]) =
+proc scheduleTasks(b: BlockExcEngine, blocks: seq[bt.Block]) {.async.} =
   trace "Schedule a task for new blocks"
 
   let
@@ -209,17 +209,18 @@ proc scheduleTasks(b: BlockExcEngine, blocks: seq[bt.Block]) =
   # schedule any new peers to provide blocks to
   for p in b.peers:
     for c in cids: # for each cid
-      # schedule a peer if it wants at least one
-      # cid and we have it in our local store
-      if c in p.peerWants and c in b.localStore:
-        if b.scheduleTask(p):
-          trace "Task scheduled for peer", peer = p.id
-        else:
-          trace "Unable to schedule task for peer", peer = p.id
+      # schedule a peer if it wants at least one cid
+      # and we have it in our local store
+      if c in p.peerWants:
+        if await (c in b.localStore):
+          if b.scheduleTask(p):
+            trace "Task scheduled for peer", peer = p.id
+          else:
+            trace "Unable to schedule task for peer", peer = p.id
 
-        break # do next peer
+          break # do next peer
 
-proc resolveBlocks*(b: BlockExcEngine, blocks: seq[bt.Block]) =
+proc resolveBlocks*(b: BlockExcEngine, blocks: seq[bt.Block]) {.async.} =
   ## Resolve pending blocks from the pending blocks manager
   ## and schedule any new task to be ran
   ##
@@ -227,7 +228,7 @@ proc resolveBlocks*(b: BlockExcEngine, blocks: seq[bt.Block]) =
   trace "Resolving blocks", blocks = blocks.len
 
   b.pendingBlocks.resolve(blocks)
-  b.scheduleTasks(blocks)
+  await b.scheduleTasks(blocks)
   b.discovery.queueProvideBlocksReq(blocks.mapIt( it.cid ))
 
 proc payForBlocks(engine: BlockExcEngine,
@@ -254,7 +255,7 @@ proc blocksHandler*(
       trace "Unable to store block", cid = blk.cid
       continue
 
-  b.resolveBlocks(blocks)
+  await b.resolveBlocks(blocks)
   let peerCtx = b.peers.get(peer)
   if peerCtx != nil:
     b.payForBlocks(peerCtx, blocks)
@@ -289,8 +290,9 @@ proc wantListHandler*(
 
     # peer might want to ask for the same cid with
     # different want params
-    if e.sendDontHave and e.cid notin b.localStore:
-      dontHaves.add(e.cid)
+    if e.sendDontHave:
+      if not(await e.cid in b.localStore):
+        dontHaves.add(e.cid)
 
   # send don't have's to remote
   if dontHaves.len > 0:
@@ -393,7 +395,7 @@ proc taskHandler*(b: BlockExcEngine, task: BlockExcPeerCtx) {.gcsafe, async.} =
   for e in task.peerWants:
     if e.wantType == WantType.wantHave:
       var presence = Presence(cid: e.cid)
-      presence.have = b.localStore.hasblock(presence.cid)
+      presence.have = await (presence.cid in b.localStore)
       if presence.have and price =? b.pricing.?price:
         presence.price = price
       wants.add(BlockPresence.init(presence))
diff --git a/codex/stores/blockstore.nim b/codex/stores/blockstore.nim
index a7439f8d..9625f833 100644
--- a/codex/stores/blockstore.nim
+++ b/codex/stores/blockstore.nim
@@ -47,11 +47,11 @@ method delBlock*(
 
   raiseAssert("Not implemented!")
 
-method hasBlock*(s: BlockStore, cid: Cid): bool {.base.} =
+method hasBlock*(s: BlockStore, cid: Cid): Future[?!bool] {.base.} =
   ## Check if the block exists in the blockstore
   ##
 
-  return false
+  raiseAssert("Not implemented!")
 
 method listBlocks*(s: BlockStore, onBlock: OnBlock): Future[void] {.base.} =
   ## Get the list of blocks in the BlockStore. This is an intensive operation
@@ -59,5 +59,9 @@ method listBlocks*(s: BlockStore, onBlock: OnBlock): Future[void] {.base.} =
 
   raiseAssert("Not implemented!")
 
-proc contains*(s: BlockStore, blk: Cid): bool =
-  s.hasBlock(blk)
+proc contains*(s: BlockStore, blk: Cid): Future[bool] {.async.} =
+  ## Check if the block exists in the blockstore.
+  ## Return false if error encountered
+  ##
+
+  return (await s.hasBlock(blk)) |? false
diff --git a/codex/stores/cachestore.nim b/codex/stores/cachestore.nim
index e92ec50b..5e04d337 100644
--- a/codex/stores/cachestore.nim
+++ b/codex/stores/cachestore.nim
@@ -55,18 +55,30 @@ method getBlock*(
     trace "Empty block, ignoring"
     return cid.emptyBlock.success
 
-  return self.cache[cid].catch()
+#  if cid notin self.cache:
+#    return Block.failure("Block not found")  # TODO: return nil
 
-method hasBlock*(self: CacheStore, cid: Cid): bool =
-  ## check if the block exists
+  try:
+    echo "cachestore: before exception"
+    let x = self.cache[cid]
+    echo "cachestore: after exception"
+    return x.success
+  except CatchableError as e:
+    echo "cachestore: exception catched"
+    return Block.failure(e)
+
+#  return self.cache[cid].catch()
+
+method hasBlock*(self: CacheStore, cid: Cid): Future[?!bool] {.async.} =
+  ## Check if the block exists in the blockstore
   ##
 
-  trace "Checking for block presence in cache", cid
+  trace "Checking CacheStore for block presence", cid
   if cid.isEmpty:
     trace "Empty block, ignoring"
-    return true
+    return true.success
 
-  cid in self.cache
+  return (cid in self.cache).success
 
 method listBlocks*(s: CacheStore, onBlock: OnBlock) {.async.} =
   for cid in toSeq(s.cache.keys):
diff --git a/codex/stores/fsstore.nim b/codex/stores/fsstore.nim
index 5ec1bead..721664f3 100644
--- a/codex/stores/fsstore.nim
+++ b/codex/stores/fsstore.nim
@@ -43,24 +43,31 @@ method getBlock*(
   ## Get a block from the stores
   ##
 
+  trace "Getting block from filestore", cid
   if cid.isEmpty:
     trace "Empty block, ignoring"
     return cid.emptyBlock.success
 
-  if cid in self.cache:
-    return await self.cache.getBlock(cid)
-
-  if cid notin self:
-    return Block.failure("Couldn't find block in fs store")
+  # Try to get this block from the cache
+  let cachedBlock = await self.cache.getBlock(cid)
+  if cachedBlock.isOK:  # TODO: check for success and non-emptiness
+    return cachedBlock
 
+  # Read file contents
   var data: seq[byte]
-  let path = self.blockPath(cid)
-  if (
-    let res = io2.readFile(path, data);
-    res.isErr):
-    let error = io2.ioErrorMsg(res.error)
-    trace "Cannot read file from fs store", path , error
-    return Block.failure("Cannot read file from fs store")
+  let
+    path = self.blockPath(cid)
+    res = io2.readFile(path, data)
+
+  # TODO: If file doesn't exist - return empty block,
+  # other I/O errors are signaled as failures
+  if res.isErr:
+    if not isFile(path):
+      return Block.failure("Couldn't find block in filestore")
+    else:
+      let error = io2.ioErrorMsg(res.error)
+      trace "Cannot read file from filestore", path, error
+      return Block.failure("Cannot read file from filestore")
 
   return Block.new(cid, data)
 
@@ -74,15 +81,16 @@ method putBlock*(
     trace "Empty block, ignoring"
     return true
 
-  if blk.cid in self:
+  let path = self.blockPath(blk.cid)
+  if isFile(path):
     return true
 
   # if directory exists it wont fail
-  if io2.createPath(self.blockPath(blk.cid).parentDir).isErr:
-    trace "Unable to create block prefix dir", dir = self.blockPath(blk.cid).parentDir
+  let dir = path.parentDir
+  if io2.createPath(dir).isErr:
+    trace "Unable to create block prefix dir", dir
     return false
 
-  let path = self.blockPath(blk.cid)
   if (
     let res = io2.writeFile(path, blk.data);
     res.isErr):
@@ -117,16 +125,16 @@ method delBlock*(
 
   return await self.cache.delBlock(cid)
 
-method hasBlock*(self: FSStore, cid: Cid): bool =
+method hasBlock*(self: FSStore, cid: Cid): Future[?!bool] {.async.} =
   ## Check if the block exists in the blockstore
   ##
 
-  trace "Checking for block existence", cid
+  trace "Checking filestore for block existence", cid
   if cid.isEmpty:
     trace "Empty block, ignoring"
-    return true
+    return true.success
 
-  self.blockPath(cid).isFile()
+  return self.blockPath(cid).isFile().success
 
 method listBlocks*(self: FSStore, onBlock: OnBlock) {.async.} =
   debug "Listing all blocks in store"
diff --git a/codex/stores/networkstore.nim b/codex/stores/networkstore.nim
index 5ce90d36..8c08c917 100644
--- a/codex/stores/networkstore.nim
+++ b/codex/stores/networkstore.nim
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ method putBlock*(
   if not (await self.localStore.putBlock(blk)):
     return false
 
-  self.engine.resolveBlocks(@[blk])
+  await self.engine.resolveBlocks(@[blk])
   return true
 
 method delBlock*(
@@ -75,13 +75,12 @@ method delBlock*(
 
 {.pop.}
 
-method hasBlock*(
-  self: NetworkStore,
-  cid: Cid): bool =
+method hasBlock*(self: NetworkStore, cid: Cid): Future[?!bool] {.async.} =
   ## Check if the block exists in the blockstore
   ##
 
-  self.localStore.hasBlock(cid)
+  trace "Checking NetworkStore for block existence", cid
+  return await self.localStore.hasBlock(cid)
 
 proc new*(
   T: type NetworkStore,
diff --git a/tests/codex/blockexchange/discovery/testdiscovery.nim b/tests/codex/blockexchange/discovery/testdiscovery.nim
index e71b78b3..3e63e674 100644
--- a/tests/codex/blockexchange/discovery/testdiscovery.nim
+++ b/tests/codex/blockexchange/discovery/testdiscovery.nim
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ suite "Block Advertising and Discovery":
 
     blockDiscovery.findBlockProvidersHandler =
       proc(d: MockDiscovery, cid: Cid): Future[seq[SignedPeerRecord]] {.async.} =
-        engine.resolveBlocks(blocks.filterIt( it.cid == cid ))
+        await engine.resolveBlocks(blocks.filterIt( it.cid == cid ))
 
     await allFuturesThrowing(
       allFinished(pendingBlocks))
diff --git a/tests/codex/blockexchange/engine/testblockexc.nim b/tests/codex/blockexchange/engine/testblockexc.nim
index f898bb79..8e436c1c 100644
--- a/tests/codex/blockexchange/engine/testblockexc.nim
+++ b/tests/codex/blockexchange/engine/testblockexc.nim
@@ -122,7 +122,8 @@ suite "NetworkStore engine - 2 nodes":
       .pushOrUpdateNoWait(peerCtx1).isOk
     await sleepAsync(100.millis)
 
-    check nodeCmps1.localStore.hasBlock(blk.cid)
+    let present = await nodeCmps1.localStore.hasBlock(blk.cid)
+    check present.tryGet()
 
   test "Should get blocks from remote":
     let blocks = await allFinished(
diff --git a/tests/codex/blockexchange/engine/testengine.nim b/tests/codex/blockexchange/engine/testengine.nim
index e6193e70..9d41a8c3 100644
--- a/tests/codex/blockexchange/engine/testengine.nim
+++ b/tests/codex/blockexchange/engine/testengine.nim
@@ -242,7 +242,8 @@ suite "NetworkStore engine handlers":
     let resolved = await allFinished(pending)
     check resolved.mapIt( it.read ) == blocks
     for b in blocks:
-      check engine.localStore.hasBlock(b.cid)
+      let present = await engine.localStore.hasBlock(b.cid)
+      check present.tryGet()
 
   test "Should send payments for received blocks":
     let account = Account(address: EthAddress.example)
diff --git a/tests/codex/stores/testcachestore.nim b/tests/codex/stores/testcachestore.nim
index 0a0d2fc6..f4a826d2 100644
--- a/tests/codex/stores/testcachestore.nim
+++ b/tests/codex/stores/testcachestore.nim
@@ -23,9 +23,11 @@ suite "Cache Store tests":
     store = CacheStore.new()
 
   test "constructor":
+    echo "testcachestore: before exception"
     # cache size cannot be smaller than chunk size
     expect ValueError:
       discard CacheStore.new(cacheSize = 1, chunkSize = 2)
+    echo "testcachestore: after exception"
 
     store = CacheStore.new(cacheSize = 100, chunkSize = 1)
     check store.currentSize == 0
@@ -50,7 +52,7 @@ suite "Cache Store tests":
 
     check:
       await store.putBlock(newBlock1)
-      newBlock1.cid in store
+      (await store.hasBlock(newBlock1.cid)).tryGet()
 
     # block size bigger than entire cache
     store = CacheStore.new(cacheSize = 99, chunkSize = 98)
@@ -62,9 +64,9 @@ suite "Cache Store tests":
               cacheSize = 200,
               chunkSize = 1)
     check:
-      not store.hasBlock(newBlock1.cid)
-      store.hasBlock(newBlock2.cid)
-      store.hasBlock(newBlock3.cid)
+      not (await store.hasBlock(newBlock1.cid)).tryGet()
+      (await store.hasBlock(newBlock2.cid)).tryGet()
+      (await store.hasBlock(newBlock2.cid)).tryGet()
       store.currentSize == newBlock2.data.len + newBlock3.data.len # 200
 
   test "getBlock":
@@ -85,11 +87,14 @@ suite "Cache Store tests":
 
   test "hasBlock":
     let store = CacheStore.new(@[newBlock])
-
-    check store.hasBlock(newBlock.cid)
+    check:
+      (await store.hasBlock(newBlock.cid)).tryGet()
+      await newBlock.cid in store
 
   test "fail hasBlock":
-    check not store.hasBlock(newBlock.cid)
+    check:
+      not (await store.hasBlock(newBlock.cid)).tryGet()
+      not (await newBlock.cid in store)
 
   test "delBlock":
     # empty cache
@@ -103,10 +108,12 @@ suite "Cache Store tests":
     store = CacheStore.new(@[newBlock1, newBlock2, newBlock3])
     check:
       store.currentSize == 300
+
     (await store.delBlock(newBlock2.cid)).tryGet()
+
     check:
       store.currentSize == 200
-      newBlock2.cid notin store
+      not (await store.hasBlock(newBlock2.cid)).tryGet()
 
   test "listBlocks":
     discard await store.putBlock(newBlock1)
@@ -114,7 +121,7 @@ suite "Cache Store tests":
     var listed = false
     await store.listBlocks(
       proc(cid: Cid) {.gcsafe, async.} =
-        check cid in store
+        check (await store.hasBlock(cid)).tryGet()
         listed = true
     )
 
diff --git a/tests/codex/stores/testfsstore.nim b/tests/codex/stores/testfsstore.nim
index 4089623e..146f3313 100644
--- a/tests/codex/stores/testfsstore.nim
+++ b/tests/codex/stores/testfsstore.nim
@@ -33,9 +33,11 @@ suite "FS Store":
     removeDir(repoDir)
 
   test "putBlock":
-    check await store.putBlock(newBlock)
-    check fileExists(store.blockPath(newBlock.cid))
-    check newBlock.cid in store
+    check:
+      await store.putBlock(newBlock)
+      fileExists(store.blockPath(newBlock.cid))
+      (await store.hasBlock(newBlock.cid)).tryGet()
+      await newBlock.cid in store
 
   test "getBlock":
     createDir(store.blockPath(newBlock.cid).parentDir)
@@ -51,7 +53,14 @@ suite "FS Store":
     createDir(store.blockPath(newBlock.cid).parentDir)
     writeFile(store.blockPath(newBlock.cid), newBlock.data)
 
-    check store.hasBlock(newBlock.cid)
+    check:
+      (await store.hasBlock(newBlock.cid)).tryGet()
+      await newBlock.cid in store
+
+  test "fail hasBlock":
+    check:
+      not (await store.hasBlock(newBlock.cid)).tryGet()
+      not (await newBlock.cid in store)
 
   test "listBlocks":
     createDir(store.blockPath(newBlock.cid).parentDir)
@@ -61,9 +70,6 @@ suite "FS Store":
       proc(cid: Cid) {.gcsafe, async.} =
         check cid == newBlock.cid)
 
-  test "fail hasBlock":
-    check not store.hasBlock(newBlock.cid)
-
   test "delBlock":
     createDir(store.blockPath(newBlock.cid).parentDir)
     writeFile(store.blockPath(newBlock.cid), newBlock.data)
diff --git a/tests/codex/testerasure.nim b/tests/codex/testerasure.nim
index 26e22475..5f5e828b 100644
--- a/tests/codex/testerasure.nim
+++ b/tests/codex/testerasure.nim
@@ -78,7 +78,8 @@ suite "Erasure encode/decode":
       decoded.len == encoded.originalLen
 
     for d in dropped:
-      check d in store
+      let present = await store.hasBlock(d)
+      check present.tryGet()
 
   test "Should not tolerate loosing more than M data blocks in a single random column":
     const
@@ -103,7 +104,8 @@ suite "Erasure encode/decode":
       decoded = (await erasure.decode(encoded)).tryGet()
 
     for d in dropped:
-      check d notin store
+      let present = await store.hasBlock(d)
+      check not present.tryGet()
 
   test "Should tolerate loosing M data blocks in M random columns":
     const
@@ -130,7 +132,8 @@ suite "Erasure encode/decode":
     discard (await erasure.decode(encoded)).tryGet()
 
     for d in manifest:
-      check d in store
+      let present = await store.hasBlock(d)
+      check present.tryGet()
 
   test "Should not tolerate loosing more than M data blocks in M random columns":
     const
@@ -179,7 +182,8 @@ suite "Erasure encode/decode":
     discard (await erasure.decode(encoded)).tryGet()
 
     for d in manifest:
-      check d in store
+      let present = await store.hasBlock(d)
+      check present.tryGet()
 
   test "Should tolerate loosing M (a.k.a row) contiguous parity blocks":
     const
@@ -194,7 +198,8 @@ suite "Erasure encode/decode":
     discard (await erasure.decode(encoded)).tryGet()
 
     for d in manifest:
-      check d in store
+      let present = await store.hasBlock(d)
+      check present.tryGet()
 
   test "handles edge case of 0 parity blocks":
     const
diff --git a/tests/codex/testnode.nim b/tests/codex/testnode.nim
index 98cbff01..b7fc89cc 100644
--- a/tests/codex/testnode.nim
+++ b/tests/codex/testnode.nim
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ suite "Test Node":
       manifestCid = (await storeFut).tryGet()
 
     check:
-      manifestCid in localStore
+      (await localStore.hasBlock(manifestCid)).tryGet()
 
     var
       manifestBlock = (await localStore.getBlock(manifestCid)).tryGet()