diff --git a/db/hints/manager.cc b/db/hints/manager.cc
index 6b76f0bc96..2272889df7 100644
--- a/db/hints/manager.cc
+++ b/db/hints/manager.cc
@@ -73,17 +73,18 @@ public:
 public:
     future<> ensure_created_and_verified() {
         if (_state != state::uninitialized) {
-            return make_ready_future<>();
+            co_return;
         }
 
-        return with_semaphore(_lock, 1, [this] () {
-            utils::directories::set dir_set;
-            dir_set.add_sharded(_hints_directory);
-            return _dirs.create_and_verify(std::move(dir_set)).then([this] {
-                manager_logger.debug("Creating and validating hint directories: {}", _hints_directory);
-                _state = state::created_and_validated;
-            });
-        });
+        const auto units = co_await seastar::get_units(_lock, 1);
+        
+        utils::directories::set dir_set;
+        dir_set.add_sharded(_hints_directory);
+        
+        co_await _dirs.create_and_verify(std::move(dir_set));
+        
+        manager_logger.debug("Creating and validating hint directories: {}", _hints_directory);
+        _state = state::created_and_validated;
     }
 
     future<> ensure_rebalanced() {