diff --git a/vector/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml b/vector/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
index 1c104f3bbf..b7bdac6879 100644
--- a/vector/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/vector/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -380,6 +380,11 @@
             android:exported="false"
             android:foregroundServiceType="location" />
 
+        <service
+            android:name=".features.start.StartAppAndroidService"
+            android:exported="false"
+            android:foregroundServiceType="dataSync" />
+
         <service
             android:name=".features.call.webrtc.ScreenCaptureAndroidService"
             android:exported="false"
diff --git a/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/features/MainActivity.kt b/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/features/MainActivity.kt
index 968d3670a9..041ee44c1c 100644
--- a/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/features/MainActivity.kt
+++ b/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/features/MainActivity.kt
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import android.content.Context
 import android.content.Intent
 import android.os.Bundle
 import android.os.Parcelable
+import androidx.core.content.ContextCompat
 import androidx.core.view.isVisible
 import androidx.lifecycle.Lifecycle
 import androidx.lifecycle.lifecycleScope
@@ -48,6 +49,7 @@ import im.vector.app.features.session.VectorSessionStore
 import im.vector.app.features.settings.VectorPreferences
 import im.vector.app.features.signout.hard.SignedOutActivity
 import im.vector.app.features.start.StartAppAction
+import im.vector.app.features.start.StartAppAndroidService
 import im.vector.app.features.start.StartAppViewEvent
 import im.vector.app.features.start.StartAppViewModel
 import im.vector.app.features.start.StartAppViewState
@@ -144,6 +146,11 @@ class MainActivity : VectorBaseActivity<ActivityMainBinding>(), UnlockedActivity
             views.status.setText(R.string.updating_your_data)
         }
         views.status.isVisible = state.duration > 0
+        if (state.duration == 1L && startAppViewModel.shouldStartApp()) {
+            // Start foreground service, because the operation may take a while
+            val intent = Intent(this, StartAppAndroidService::class.java)
+            ContextCompat.startForegroundService(this, intent)
+        }
     }
 
     private fun handleViewEvents(event: StartAppViewEvent) {
diff --git a/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/features/notifications/NotificationUtils.kt b/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/features/notifications/NotificationUtils.kt
index 514952b66c..2948565d58 100755
--- a/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/features/notifications/NotificationUtils.kt
+++ b/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/features/notifications/NotificationUtils.kt
@@ -568,6 +568,19 @@ class NotificationUtils @Inject constructor(
                 .build()
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Creates a notification that indicates the application is initializing.
+     */
+    fun buildStartAppNotification(): Notification {
+        return NotificationCompat.Builder(context, LISTENING_FOR_EVENTS_NOTIFICATION_CHANNEL_ID)
+                .setContentTitle(stringProvider.getString(R.string.updating_your_data))
+                .setSmallIcon(R.drawable.sync)
+                .setColor(ThemeUtils.getColor(context, android.R.attr.colorPrimary))
+                .setCategory(NotificationCompat.CATEGORY_SERVICE)
+                .setPriority(NotificationCompat.PRIORITY_LOW)
+                .build()
+    }
+
     fun buildDownloadFileNotification(uri: Uri, fileName: String, mimeType: String): Notification {
         return NotificationCompat.Builder(context, SILENT_NOTIFICATION_CHANNEL_ID)
                 .setGroup(stringProvider.getString(R.string.app_name))
diff --git a/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/features/start/StartAppAndroidService.kt b/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/features/start/StartAppAndroidService.kt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e8e0eac863
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/features/start/StartAppAndroidService.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2022 New Vector Ltd
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package im.vector.app.features.start
+
+import android.content.Intent
+import dagger.hilt.android.AndroidEntryPoint
+import im.vector.app.core.di.ActiveSessionHolder
+import im.vector.app.core.di.NamedGlobalScope
+import im.vector.app.core.services.VectorAndroidService
+import im.vector.app.features.notifications.NotificationUtils
+import kotlinx.coroutines.CoroutineScope
+import kotlinx.coroutines.delay
+import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
+import javax.inject.Inject
+import kotlin.random.Random
+import kotlin.time.Duration.Companion.seconds
+
+/**
+ * A simple foreground service that let the app (and the SDK) time to initialize.
+ * Will self stop itself once the active session is set.
+ */
+@AndroidEntryPoint
+class StartAppAndroidService : VectorAndroidService() {
+
+    @NamedGlobalScope @Inject lateinit var globalScope: CoroutineScope
+    @Inject lateinit var notificationUtils: NotificationUtils
+    @Inject lateinit var activeSessionHolder: ActiveSessionHolder
+
+    override fun onStartCommand(intent: Intent?, flags: Int, startId: Int): Int {
+        showStickyNotification()
+        startPollingActiveSession()
+        return START_STICKY
+    }
+
+    private fun startPollingActiveSession() {
+        globalScope.launch {
+            do {
+                delay(1.seconds.inWholeMilliseconds)
+            } while (activeSessionHolder.hasActiveSession().not())
+            myStopSelf()
+        }
+    }
+
+    private fun showStickyNotification() {
+        val notificationId = Random.nextInt()
+        val notification = notificationUtils.buildStartAppNotification()
+        startForeground(notificationId, notification)
+    }
+}