diff --git a/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/actfm/sync/ActFmSyncProvider.java b/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/actfm/sync/ActFmSyncProvider.java
index f54a91b8c..1881f681c 100644
--- a/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/actfm/sync/ActFmSyncProvider.java
+++ b/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/actfm/sync/ActFmSyncProvider.java
@@ -321,6 +321,7 @@ public class ActFmSyncProvider extends SyncProvider<ActFmTaskContainer> {
         } else { // Set default reminders for remotely created tasks
             TaskDao.setDefaultReminders(task.task);
         }
+        task.task.setValue(Task.LAST_SYNC, DateUtilities.now() + 1000);
         actFmDataService.saveTaskAndMetadata(task);
     }
 
diff --git a/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/activity/TaskListActivity.java b/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/activity/TaskListActivity.java
index 277deab0d..1ddbdfc17 100644
--- a/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/activity/TaskListActivity.java
+++ b/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/activity/TaskListActivity.java
@@ -1201,8 +1201,14 @@ public class TaskListActivity extends ListActivity implements OnScrollListener,
         }
     }
 
+    private static final String PREF_LAST_AUTO_SYNC = "taskListLastAutoSync"; //$NON-NLS-1$
+
     private void initiateAutomaticSync() {
-        syncService.synchronizeActiveTasks(false, new TaskListSyncResultCallback());
+        long lastAutoSync = Preferences.getLong(PREF_LAST_AUTO_SYNC, 0);
+        if(DateUtilities.now() - lastAutoSync > DateUtilities.ONE_HOUR) {
+            syncService.synchronizeActiveTasks(false, new TaskListSyncResultCallback());
+            Preferences.setLong(PREF_LAST_AUTO_SYNC, DateUtilities.now());
+        }
     }
 
     private void performSyncAction() {
@@ -1249,6 +1255,7 @@ public class TaskListActivity extends ListActivity implements OnScrollListener,
         }
         else {
             syncService.synchronizeActiveTasks(true, new TaskListSyncResultCallback());
+            Preferences.setLong(PREF_LAST_AUTO_SYNC, DateUtilities.now());
 
             if(syncActions.size() > 0) {
                 for(SyncAction syncAction : syncActions) {