diff --git a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/services/NotificationService.java b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/services/NotificationService.java
index 1894b91dc..e7fb1ba68 100644
--- a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/services/NotificationService.java
+++ b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/services/NotificationService.java
@@ -900,15 +900,17 @@ public class NotificationService {
         final Notification.Builder mBuilder = new Notification.Builder(mXmppConnectionService);
         mBuilder.setContentTitle(mXmppConnectionService.getString(R.string.app_name));
         if (Compatibility.runsAndTargetsTwentySix(mXmppConnectionService) || Config.SHOW_CONNECTED_ACCOUNTS) {
-            List<Account> accounts = mXmppConnectionService.getAccounts();
+            final List<Account> accounts = mXmppConnectionService.getAccounts();
             int enabled = 0;
             int connected = 0;
-            for (Account account : accounts) {
-                if (account.isOnlineAndConnected()) {
-                    connected++;
-                    enabled++;
-                } else if (account.isEnabled()) {
-                    enabled++;
+            if (accounts != null) {
+                for (Account account : accounts) {
+                    if (account.isOnlineAndConnected()) {
+                        connected++;
+                        enabled++;
+                    } else if (account.isEnabled()) {
+                        enabled++;
+                    }
                 }
             }
             mBuilder.setContentText(mXmppConnectionService.getString(R.string.connected_accounts, connected, enabled));
diff --git a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/services/XmppConnectionService.java b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/services/XmppConnectionService.java
index 7b9a90c02..2c824620b 100644
--- a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/services/XmppConnectionService.java
+++ b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/services/XmppConnectionService.java
@@ -198,6 +198,7 @@ public class XmppConnectionService extends Service {
     private ShortcutService mShortcutService = new ShortcutService(this);
     private AtomicBoolean mInitialAddressbookSyncCompleted = new AtomicBoolean(false);
     private AtomicBoolean mForceForegroundService = new AtomicBoolean(false);
+    private AtomicBoolean mForceDuringOnCreate = new AtomicBoolean(false);
     private OnMessagePacketReceived mMessageParser = new MessageParser(this);
     private OnPresencePacketReceived mPresenceParser = new PresenceParser(this);
     private IqParser mIqParser = new IqParser(this);
@@ -964,6 +965,11 @@ public class XmppConnectionService extends Service {
     @SuppressLint("TrulyRandom")
     @Override
     public void onCreate() {
+        if (Compatibility.runsTwentySix()) {
+            mNotificationService.initializeChannels();
+        }
+        mForceDuringOnCreate.set(Compatibility.runsAndTargetsTwentySix(this));
+        toggleForegroundService();
         this.destroyed = false;
         OmemoSetting.load(this);
         ExceptionHelper.init(getApplicationContext());
@@ -975,9 +981,6 @@ public class XmppConnectionService extends Service {
         Resolver.init(this);
         this.mRandom = new SecureRandom();
         updateMemorizingTrustmanager();
-        if (Compatibility.runsTwentySix()) {
-            mNotificationService.initializeChannels();
-        }
         final int maxMemory = (int) (Runtime.getRuntime().maxMemory() / 1024);
         final int cacheSize = maxMemory / 8;
         this.mBitmapCache = new LruCache<String, Bitmap>(cacheSize) {
@@ -1046,6 +1049,8 @@ public class XmppConnectionService extends Service {
             intentFilter.addAction(NotificationManager.ACTION_INTERRUPTION_FILTER_CHANGED);
             registerReceiver(this.mInternalEventReceiver, intentFilter);
         }
+        mForceDuringOnCreate.set(false);
+        toggleForegroundService();
     }
 
     private void checkForDeletedFiles() {
@@ -1132,7 +1137,7 @@ public class XmppConnectionService extends Service {
 
     private void toggleForegroundService(boolean force) {
         final boolean status;
-        if (force || mForceForegroundService.get() || (Compatibility.keepForegroundService(this) && hasEnabledAccounts())) {
+        if (force || mForceDuringOnCreate.get() || mForceForegroundService.get() || (Compatibility.keepForegroundService(this) && hasEnabledAccounts())) {
             startForeground(NotificationService.FOREGROUND_NOTIFICATION_ID, this.mNotificationService.createForegroundNotification());
             status = true;
         } else {