diff --git a/mobile/android/app/src/main/kotlin/com/example/mobile/MainActivity.kt b/mobile/android/app/src/main/kotlin/com/example/mobile/MainActivity.kt
index f16acc394e..2e6372231d 100644
--- a/mobile/android/app/src/main/kotlin/com/example/mobile/MainActivity.kt
+++ b/mobile/android/app/src/main/kotlin/com/example/mobile/MainActivity.kt
@@ -14,7 +14,12 @@ class MainActivity: FlutterActivity() {
 
     override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
         super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)
-        startService(Intent(getBaseContext(), AppClearedService::class.java));
+        try {
+            startService(Intent(getBaseContext(), AppClearedService::class.java));
+        } catch (e: Exception) {
+            // startService must not be called when app is in background (crashes app)
+            // there is nothing we can do
+        }
     }
 
 }