diff --git a/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/actfm/ActFmLoginActivity.java b/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/actfm/ActFmLoginActivity.java
index d48c34421..56146ec33 100644
--- a/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/actfm/ActFmLoginActivity.java
+++ b/astrid/plugin-src/com/todoroo/astrid/actfm/ActFmLoginActivity.java
@@ -355,26 +355,43 @@ public class ActFmLoginActivity extends Activity implements AuthListener {
     // --- utilities
 
     @SuppressWarnings("nls")
-    public void authenticate(String email, String name, String provider,
-            String secret) {
+    public void authenticate(final String email, final String name, final String provider,
+            final String secret) {
         if (progressDialog == null)
             progressDialog = DialogUtilities.progressDialog(this,
                     getString(R.string.DLG_please_wait));
 
-        try {
-            JSONObject result = actFmInvoker.authenticate(email, name,
-                    provider, secret);
-            String token = actFmInvoker.getToken();
-
-            if (result.optBoolean("new")) { // Report new user statistic
-                StatisticsService.reportEvent(StatisticsConstants.ACTFM_NEW_USER, "provider", provider);
+        new Thread() {
+            @Override
+            public void run() {
+                try {
+                    final JSONObject result = actFmInvoker.authenticate(email, name,
+                            provider, secret);
+                    final String token = actFmInvoker.getToken();
+
+                    if (result.optBoolean("new")) { // Report new user statistic
+                        StatisticsService.reportEvent(StatisticsConstants.ACTFM_NEW_USER, "provider", provider);
+                    }
+                    runOnUiThread(new Runnable() {
+                        public void run() {
+                            DialogUtilities.dismissDialog(ActFmLoginActivity.this, progressDialog);
+                            progressDialog = null;
+                            postAuthenticate(result, token);
+                        }
+                    });
+                } catch (IOException e) {
+                    handleError(e);
+                } finally {
+                    runOnUiThread(new Runnable() {
+                        public void run() {
+                            if (progressDialog != null) {
+                                DialogUtilities.dismissDialog(ActFmLoginActivity.this, progressDialog);
+                            }
+                        }
+                    });
+                }
             }
-            postAuthenticate(result, token);
-        } catch (IOException e) {
-            handleError(e);
-        } finally {
-            DialogUtilities.dismissDialog(this, progressDialog);
-        }
+        }.start();
     }
 
     @SuppressWarnings("nls")
@@ -394,7 +411,7 @@ public class ActFmLoginActivity extends Activity implements AuthListener {
         finishAndShowNext();
 
         if (!noSync) {
-            new ActFmSyncProvider().synchronize(this);
+            new ActFmSyncProvider().synchronize(ActFmLoginActivity.this);
         }
 
         try {
diff --git a/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/welcome/WelcomeGraphic.java b/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/welcome/WelcomeGraphic.java
index 076687dd7..a5cffa569 100644
--- a/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/welcome/WelcomeGraphic.java
+++ b/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/welcome/WelcomeGraphic.java
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import com.todoroo.andlib.service.Autowired;
 import com.todoroo.andlib.service.ContextManager;
 import com.todoroo.andlib.service.DependencyInjectionService;
 import com.todoroo.andlib.utility.AndroidUtilities;
+import com.todoroo.astrid.actfm.sync.ActFmSyncProvider;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.activity.Eula;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.activity.FilterListActivity;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.activity.TaskListActivity;
@@ -25,6 +26,8 @@ public class WelcomeGraphic extends Activity {
 
     public static final String KEY_SHOW_EULA = "show_eula"; //$NON-NLS-1$
 
+    public static final String START_SYNC = "start_sync"; //$NON-NLS-1$
+
     @Autowired ABChooser abChooser;
 
     @Override
@@ -40,6 +43,7 @@ public class WelcomeGraphic extends Activity {
         if (getIntent().getBooleanExtra(KEY_SHOW_EULA, false))
             Eula.showEula(this);
 
+
         final ImageView image = (ImageView)findViewById(R.id.welcome_image);
         image.setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener() {
             @Override
@@ -59,6 +63,9 @@ public class WelcomeGraphic extends Activity {
                 }.start();
             }
         });
+
+        if (getIntent().getBooleanExtra(START_SYNC, false))
+            new ActFmSyncProvider().synchronize(this);
     }
 
     @Override
diff --git a/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/welcome/WelcomeLogin.java b/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/welcome/WelcomeLogin.java
index 2f94f1f90..dad736b54 100644
--- a/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/welcome/WelcomeLogin.java
+++ b/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/welcome/WelcomeLogin.java
@@ -61,6 +61,8 @@ public class WelcomeLogin extends ActFmLoginActivity implements AuthListener {
     @Override
     protected void finishAndShowNext() {
         Intent welcomeScreen = new Intent(this, WelcomeGraphic.class);
+        welcomeScreen.putExtra(WelcomeGraphic.START_SYNC, true);
+        noSync = true; // For superclass
         startActivity(welcomeScreen);
         finish();
         Preferences.setBoolean(KEY_SHOWED_WELCOME_LOGIN, true);