diff --git a/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/activity/AstridWrapperActivity.java b/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/activity/AstridWrapperActivity.java
index 8a30a79a4..ac88de6b6 100644
--- a/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/activity/AstridWrapperActivity.java
+++ b/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/activity/AstridWrapperActivity.java
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package com.todoroo.astrid.activity;
 
 import android.app.PendingIntent.CanceledException;
 import android.content.Intent;
+import android.os.Bundle;
 import android.support.v4.app.Fragment;
 import android.support.v4.app.FragmentActivity;
 import android.support.v4.app.FragmentManager;
@@ -15,6 +16,7 @@ import com.todoroo.astrid.api.FilterListItem;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.api.FilterWithCustomIntent;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.api.IntentFilter;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.core.SearchFilter;
+import com.todoroo.astrid.service.StartupService;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.service.StatisticsConstants;
 import com.todoroo.astrid.service.StatisticsService;
 
@@ -61,6 +63,14 @@ public class AstridWrapperActivity extends FragmentActivity
         return frag;
     }
 
+
+
+    @Override
+    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
+        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
+        new StartupService().onStartupApplication(this);
+    }
+
     @Override
     protected void onNewIntent(Intent intent) {
         super.onNewIntent(intent);
diff --git a/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/service/StartupService.java b/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/service/StartupService.java
index 5fe4d9e8a..dfe0cd26e 100644
--- a/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/service/StartupService.java
+++ b/astrid/src/com/todoroo/astrid/service/StartupService.java
@@ -112,6 +112,8 @@ public class StartupService {
         Crittercism.init(context.getApplicationContext(), Constants.CRITTERCISM_APP_ID,
                 Constants.CRITTERCISM_OATH_KEY, Constants.CRITTERCISM_SECRET, StatisticsService.dontCollectStatistics());
 
+        database.openForWriting();
+
         // show notification if reminders are silenced
         if(context instanceof Activity) {
             AudioManager audioManager = (AudioManager)context.getSystemService(
@@ -183,7 +185,6 @@ public class StartupService {
                 am.setInexactRepeating(AlarmManager.RTC, 0,
                         Constants.WIDGET_UPDATE_INTERVAL, pendingIntent);
 
-                database.openForWriting();
                 taskService.cleanup();
 
                 // if sync ongoing flag was set, clear it