diff --git a/src/strands/session/file_session_manager.py b/src/strands/session/file_session_manager.py
index 93adeb7f2..491f7ad60 100644
--- a/src/strands/session/file_session_manager.py
+++ b/src/strands/session/file_session_manager.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 """File-based session manager for local filesystem storage."""
 
-import asyncio
 import json
 import logging
 import os
@@ -232,20 +231,11 @@ def list_messages(
         else:
             message_files = message_files[offset:]
 
-        return asyncio.run(self._load_messages_concurrently(messages_dir, message_files))
-
-    async def _load_messages_concurrently(self, messages_dir: str, message_files: list[str]) -> list[SessionMessage]:
-        """Load multiple message files concurrently using async."""
-        if not message_files:
-            return []
-
-        async def load_message(filename: str) -> SessionMessage:
+        # Load only the message files
+        messages: list[SessionMessage] = []
+        for filename in message_files:
             file_path = os.path.join(messages_dir, filename)
-            loop = asyncio.get_event_loop()
-            message_data = await loop.run_in_executor(None, self._read_file, file_path)
-            return SessionMessage.from_dict(message_data)
-
-        tasks = [load_message(filename) for filename in message_files]
-        messages = await asyncio.gather(*tasks)
+            message_data = self._read_file(file_path)
+            messages.append(SessionMessage.from_dict(message_data))
 
         return messages
diff --git a/src/strands/session/s3_session_manager.py b/src/strands/session/s3_session_manager.py
index 1f6ffe7f1..c6ce28d80 100644
--- a/src/strands/session/s3_session_manager.py
+++ b/src/strands/session/s3_session_manager.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 """S3-based session manager for cloud storage."""
 
-import asyncio
 import json
 import logging
 from typing import Any, Dict, List, Optional, cast
@@ -284,23 +283,14 @@ def list_messages(
             else:
                 message_keys = message_keys[offset:]
 
-            # Load message objects concurrently using async
-            return asyncio.run(self._load_messages_concurrently(message_keys))
+            # Load only the required message objects
+            messages: List[SessionMessage] = []
+            for key in message_keys:
+                message_data = self._read_s3_object(key)
+                if message_data:
+                    messages.append(SessionMessage.from_dict(message_data))
+
+            return messages
 
         except ClientError as e:
             raise SessionException(f"S3 error reading messages: {e}") from e
-
-    async def _load_messages_concurrently(self, message_keys: List[str]) -> List[SessionMessage]:
-        """Load multiple message objects concurrently using async."""
-        if not message_keys:
-            return []
-
-        async def load_message(key: str) -> Optional[SessionMessage]:
-            loop = asyncio.get_event_loop()
-            message_data = await loop.run_in_executor(None, self._read_s3_object, key)
-            return SessionMessage.from_dict(message_data) if message_data else None
-
-        tasks = [load_message(key) for key in message_keys]
-        loaded_messages = await asyncio.gather(*tasks)
-
-        return [msg for msg in loaded_messages if msg is not None]