diff --git a/nicegui/elements/mixins/validation_element.py b/nicegui/elements/mixins/validation_element.py
index 1f0e5ca1d..54193e6f8 100644
--- a/nicegui/elements/mixins/validation_element.py
+++ b/nicegui/elements/mixins/validation_element.py
@@ -1,13 +1,18 @@
-from typing import Any, Callable, Dict, Optional, Union
+from typing import Any, Awaitable, Callable, Dict, Optional, Union
 
 from typing_extensions import Self
 
+from ... import background_tasks
+from ...helpers import is_coroutine_function
 from .value_element import ValueElement
 
 
 class ValidationElement(ValueElement):
 
-    def __init__(self, validation: Optional[Union[Callable[..., Optional[str]], Dict[str, Callable[..., bool]]]], **kwargs: Any) -> None:
+    def __init__(self, validation: Optional[Union[
+            Callable[..., Union[Optional[str], Awaitable[Optional[str]]]],
+            Dict[str, Callable[..., bool]],
+    ]], **kwargs: Any) -> None:
         self._validation = validation
         self._auto_validation = True
         self._error: Optional[str] = None
@@ -15,18 +20,24 @@ def __init__(self, validation: Optional[Union[Callable[..., Optional[str]], Dict
         self._props['error'] = None if validation is None else False  # NOTE: reserve bottom space for error message
 
     @property
-    def validation(self) -> Optional[Union[Callable[..., Optional[str]], Dict[str, Callable[..., bool]]]]:
+    def validation(self) -> Optional[Union[
+        Callable[..., Union[Optional[str], Awaitable[Optional[str]]]],
+        Dict[str, Callable[..., bool]],
+    ]]:
         """The validation function or dictionary of validation functions."""
         return self._validation
 
     @validation.setter
-    def validation(self, validation: Optional[Union[Callable[..., Optional[str]], Dict[str, Callable[..., bool]]]]) -> None:
+    def validation(self, validation: Optional[Union[
+        Callable[..., Union[Optional[str], Awaitable[Optional[str]]]],
+        Dict[str, Callable[..., bool]],
+    ]]) -> None:
         """Sets the validation function or dictionary of validation functions.
 
         :param validation: validation function or dictionary of validation functions (``None`` to disable validation)
         """
         self._validation = validation
-        self.validate()
+        self.validate(return_result=False)
 
     @property
     def error(self) -> Optional[str]:
@@ -47,13 +58,26 @@ def error(self, error: Optional[str]) -> None:
         self._props['error-message'] = error
         self.update()
 
-    def validate(self) -> bool:
+    def validate(self, *, return_result: bool = True) -> bool:
         """Validate the current value and set the error message if necessary.
 
         :return: True if the value is valid, False otherwise
         """
+        if is_coroutine_function(self._validation):
+            async def await_error():
+                assert callable(self._validation)
+                result = self._validation(self.value)
+                assert isinstance(result, Awaitable)
+                self.error = await result
+            if return_result:
+                raise NotImplementedError('The validate method cannot return results for async validation functions')
+            background_tasks.create(await_error())
+            return True
+
         if callable(self._validation):
-            self.error = self._validation(self.value)
+            result = self._validation(self.value)
+            assert not isinstance(result, Awaitable)
+            self.error = result
             return self.error is None
 
         if isinstance(self._validation, dict):
@@ -73,4 +97,4 @@ def without_auto_validation(self) -> Self:
     def _handle_value_change(self, value: Any) -> None:
         super()._handle_value_change(value)
         if self._auto_validation:
-            self.validate()
+            self.validate(return_result=False)