diff --git a/nomen/utils.py b/nomen/utils.py
index 7186c19..3b9861e 100644
--- a/nomen/utils.py
+++ b/nomen/utils.py
@@ -112,8 +112,8 @@ def unpack(lst_of_tpl):
 
 
 async def fetch_unpacked(db, sql, params=None):
-    cur = db.cursor()
-    cur.row_factory = first
+    cur = await db.cursor()
+    cur.row_factory = lambda cursor, row: first(row)
     cur = await cur.execute(sql, params)
     return await cur.fetchall()