diff --git a/mitmproxy/addons/readfile.py b/mitmproxy/addons/readfile.py
index aaf02d01b..f97e297b2 100644
--- a/mitmproxy/addons/readfile.py
+++ b/mitmproxy/addons/readfile.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import asyncio
 import os.path
 import sys
 import typing
@@ -17,12 +18,12 @@ class ReadFile:
             "Read flows from file."
         )
 
-    def load_flows(self, fo: typing.IO[bytes]) -> int:
+    async def load_flows(self, fo: typing.IO[bytes]) -> int:
         cnt = 0
         freader = io.FlowReader(fo)
         try:
             for flow in freader.stream():
-                ctx.master.load_flow(flow)
+                await ctx.master.load_flow(flow)
                 cnt += 1
         except (IOError, exceptions.FlowReadException) as e:
             if cnt:
@@ -33,29 +34,32 @@ class ReadFile:
         else:
             return cnt
 
-    def load_flows_from_path(self, path: str) -> int:
+    async def load_flows_from_path(self, path: str) -> int:
         path = os.path.expanduser(path)
         try:
             with open(path, "rb") as f:
-                return self.load_flows(f)
+                return await self.load_flows(f)
         except IOError as e:
             ctx.log.error("Cannot load flows: {}".format(e))
             raise exceptions.FlowReadException(str(e)) from e
 
+    async def doread(self, rfile):
+        try:
+            await self.load_flows_from_path(ctx.options.rfile)
+        except exceptions.FlowReadException as e:
+            raise exceptions.OptionsError(e) from e
+        finally:
+            ctx.master.addons.trigger("processing_complete")
+
     def running(self):
         if ctx.options.rfile:
-            try:
-                self.load_flows_from_path(ctx.options.rfile)
-            except exceptions.FlowReadException as e:
-                raise exceptions.OptionsError(e) from e
-            finally:
-                ctx.master.addons.trigger("processing_complete")
+            asyncio.get_event_loop().create_task(self.doread(ctx.options.rfile))
 
 
 class ReadFileStdin(ReadFile):
     """Support the special case of "-" for reading from stdin"""
-    def load_flows_from_path(self, path: str) -> int:
+    async def load_flows_from_path(self, path: str) -> int:
         if path == "-":
-            return self.load_flows(sys.stdin.buffer)
+            return await self.load_flows(sys.stdin.buffer)
         else:
-            return super().load_flows_from_path(path)
+            return await super().load_flows_from_path(path)
diff --git a/mitmproxy/tools/main.py b/mitmproxy/tools/main.py
index 53c236bba..b424490ac 100644
--- a/mitmproxy/tools/main.py
+++ b/mitmproxy/tools/main.py
@@ -150,7 +150,6 @@ def mitmdump(args=None):  # pragma: no cover
         if args.filter_args:
             v = " ".join(args.filter_args)
             return dict(
-                view_filter=v,
                 save_stream_filter=v,
             )
         return {}