diff --git a/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/backup/BackupService.java b/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/backup/BackupService.java
index ca863e271..5872b0cac 100644
--- a/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/backup/BackupService.java
+++ b/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/backup/BackupService.java
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import android.util.Log;
 
 import com.timsu.astrid.R;
 import com.todoroo.andlib.service.ContextManager;
+import com.todoroo.astrid.core.PluginServices;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.utility.Preferences;
 
 /**
@@ -44,9 +45,13 @@ public class BackupService extends Service {
 
     @Override
     public void onStart(Intent intent, int startId) {
-        if (intent.getAction().equals(BACKUP_ACTION)) {
-            ContextManager.setContext(this);
-            startBackup(this);
+        try {
+            if (intent.getAction().equals(BACKUP_ACTION)) {
+                ContextManager.setContext(this);
+                startBackup(this);
+            }
+        } catch (Exception e) {
+            PluginServices.getExceptionService().reportError("backup-bg-sync", e); //$NON-NLS-1$
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/producteev/ProducteevBackgroundService.java b/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/producteev/ProducteevBackgroundService.java
index dffa47776..667d425d2 100644
--- a/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/producteev/ProducteevBackgroundService.java
+++ b/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/producteev/ProducteevBackgroundService.java
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ public class ProducteevBackgroundService extends Service {
         if(ProducteevUtilities.INSTANCE.isOngoing())
             return;
 
+        PluginServices.getTaskService();
         new ProducteevSyncProvider().synchronize(context);
     }
 
diff --git a/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/producteev/sync/ProducteevSyncProvider.java b/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/producteev/sync/ProducteevSyncProvider.java
index 3c11c4afc..5461247ee 100644
--- a/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/producteev/sync/ProducteevSyncProvider.java
+++ b/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/producteev/sync/ProducteevSyncProvider.java
@@ -163,8 +163,8 @@ public class ProducteevSyncProvider extends SyncProvider<ProducteevTaskContainer
                     if(context instanceof Activity)
                         ((Activity)context).startActivityForResult(intent, 0);
                     else {
-                        intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
-                        context.startActivity(intent);
+                        preferences.setToken(null);
+                        preferences.stopOngoing();
                     }
                 } else {
                     invoker.authenticate(email, password);
diff --git a/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/rmilk/MilkBackgroundService.java b/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/rmilk/MilkBackgroundService.java
index f1a6844a0..33f1a2f2f 100644
--- a/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/rmilk/MilkBackgroundService.java
+++ b/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/rmilk/MilkBackgroundService.java
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ public class MilkBackgroundService extends Service {
         if(MilkUtilities.isOngoing())
             return;
 
+        PluginServices.getTaskService();
         new RTMSyncProvider().synchronize(context);
     }
 
diff --git a/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/rmilk/sync/RTMSyncProvider.java b/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/rmilk/sync/RTMSyncProvider.java
index 489e019dc..777fae37b 100644
--- a/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/rmilk/sync/RTMSyncProvider.java
+++ b/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/rmilk/sync/RTMSyncProvider.java
@@ -36,21 +36,21 @@ import com.todoroo.astrid.common.SyncProvider;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.model.Metadata;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.model.Task;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.rmilk.MilkLoginActivity;
-import com.todoroo.astrid.rmilk.MilkLoginActivity.SyncLoginCallback;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.rmilk.MilkPreferences;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.rmilk.MilkUtilities;
+import com.todoroo.astrid.rmilk.MilkLoginActivity.SyncLoginCallback;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.rmilk.api.ApplicationInfo;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.rmilk.api.ServiceImpl;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.rmilk.api.ServiceInternalException;
-import com.todoroo.astrid.rmilk.api.data.RtmAuth.Perms;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.rmilk.api.data.RtmList;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.rmilk.api.data.RtmLists;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.rmilk.api.data.RtmTask;
-import com.todoroo.astrid.rmilk.api.data.RtmTask.Priority;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.rmilk.api.data.RtmTaskList;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.rmilk.api.data.RtmTaskNote;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.rmilk.api.data.RtmTaskSeries;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.rmilk.api.data.RtmTasks;
+import com.todoroo.astrid.rmilk.api.data.RtmAuth.Perms;
+import com.todoroo.astrid.rmilk.api.data.RtmTask.Priority;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.rmilk.data.MilkDataService;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.rmilk.data.MilkNote;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.service.AstridDependencyInjector;
@@ -212,10 +212,14 @@ public class RTMSyncProvider extends SyncProvider<RTMTaskContainer> {
                     }
                 });
                 intent.putExtra(MilkLoginActivity.URL_TOKEN, url);
+
                 if(context instanceof Activity)
                     ((Activity)context).startActivityForResult(intent, 0);
-                else
-                    context.startActivity(intent);
+                else {
+                    // can't synchronize until user logs in
+                    MilkUtilities.setToken(null);
+                    MilkUtilities.stopOngoing();
+                }
 
             } else {
                 performSync();