diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/todoroo/astrid/helper/UUIDHelper.java b/app/src/main/java/com/todoroo/astrid/helper/UUIDHelper.java
index abc4dd477..2b5922f9b 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/todoroo/astrid/helper/UUIDHelper.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/todoroo/astrid/helper/UUIDHelper.java
@@ -3,8 +3,15 @@ package com.todoroo.astrid.helper;
 import java.util.UUID;
 
 public class UUIDHelper {
-  /** @return a newly generated uuid */
+
+  private static final long MIN_UUID = 100000000;
+
+  /** @return a pair consisting of the newly generated uuid and the corresponding proof text */
   public static String newUUID() {
-    return UUID.randomUUID().toString();
+    long uuid;
+    do {
+      uuid = UUID.randomUUID().getLeastSignificantBits() & 0x7fffffffffffffffL;
+    } while (uuid < MIN_UUID);
+    return Long.toString(uuid);
   }
 }