diff --git a/src/androidTest/java/de/dennisguse/opentracks/publicapi/PublicApiTest.java b/src/androidTest/java/de/dennisguse/opentracks/publicapi/PublicApiTest.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..92960d1a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/androidTest/java/de/dennisguse/opentracks/publicapi/PublicApiTest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+package de.dennisguse.opentracks.publicapi;
+
+import android.content.Context;
+
+import androidx.test.core.app.ApplicationProvider;
+import androidx.test.ext.junit.runners.AndroidJUnit4;
+import androidx.test.filters.LargeTest;
+import androidx.test.rule.GrantPermissionRule;
+
+import org.junit.Rule;
+import org.junit.Test;
+import org.junit.runner.RunWith;
+
+import de.dennisguse.opentracks.R;
+import de.dennisguse.opentracks.TestUtil;
+import de.dennisguse.opentracks.settings.PreferencesUtils;
+import de.dennisguse.opentracks.util.IntentUtils;
+
+@LargeTest
+@RunWith(AndroidJUnit4.class)
+public class PublicApiTest {
+
+    @Rule
+    public GrantPermissionRule mGrantPermissionRule = TestUtil.createGrantPermissionRule();
+
+    private final Context context = ApplicationProvider.getApplicationContext();
+
+    @Test
+    public void StartTest() {
+        PreferencesUtils.setBoolean(R.string.publicapi_enabled_key, true);
+
+        context.startActivity(IntentUtils.newIntent(context, StartRecording.class));
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void StartStopTest() throws InterruptedException {
+        PreferencesUtils.setBoolean(R.string.publicapi_enabled_key, true);
+
+        context.startActivity(IntentUtils.newIntent(context, StartRecording.class));
+
+        Thread.sleep(5000);
+
+        context.startActivity(IntentUtils.newIntent(context, StopRecording.class));
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    public void StopAndWait() throws InterruptedException {
+        PreferencesUtils.setBoolean(R.string.publicapi_enabled_key, true);
+
+        context.startActivity(IntentUtils.newIntent(context, StopRecording.class));
+
+        Thread.sleep(10000);
+
+        //No ForegroundServiceDidNotStartInTimeException should be happening.
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/main/java/de/dennisguse/opentracks/TrackListActivity.java b/src/main/java/de/dennisguse/opentracks/TrackListActivity.java
index dda4cb355..2bec92c20 100644
--- a/src/main/java/de/dennisguse/opentracks/TrackListActivity.java
+++ b/src/main/java/de/dennisguse/opentracks/TrackListActivity.java
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ public class TrackListActivity extends AbstractTrackDeleteActivity implements Co
                 if (gpsStatusValue.isGpsStarted()) {
                     recordingStatusConnection.stopService(this);
                 } else {
-                    TrackRecordingServiceConnection.execute(this, (service, connection) -> service.tryStartSensors());
+                    TrackRecordingServiceConnection.executeForeground(this, (service, connection) -> service.tryStartSensors());
                 }
             }
         });
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ public class TrackListActivity extends AbstractTrackDeleteActivity implements Co
             // Not Recording -> Recording
             Log.i(TAG, "Starting recording");
             updateGpsMenuItem(false, true);
-            TrackRecordingServiceConnection.execute(this, (service, connection) -> {
+            TrackRecordingServiceConnection.executeForeground(this, (service, connection) -> {
                 Track.Id trackId = service.startNewTrack();
 
                 Intent newIntent = IntentUtils.newIntent(TrackListActivity.this, TrackRecordingActivity.class);
diff --git a/src/main/java/de/dennisguse/opentracks/TrackRecordedActivity.java b/src/main/java/de/dennisguse/opentracks/TrackRecordedActivity.java
index 856a04a53..911675fb5 100644
--- a/src/main/java/de/dennisguse/opentracks/TrackRecordedActivity.java
+++ b/src/main/java/de/dennisguse/opentracks/TrackRecordedActivity.java
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ public class TrackRecordedActivity extends AbstractTrackDeleteActivity implement
         }
 
         if (item.getItemId() == R.id.track_detail_resume_track) {
-            TrackRecordingServiceConnection.execute(this, (service, connection) -> {
+            TrackRecordingServiceConnection.executeForeground(this, (service, connection) -> {
                 service.resumeTrack(trackId);
 
                 Intent newIntent = IntentUtils.newIntent(TrackRecordedActivity.this, TrackRecordingActivity.class)
diff --git a/src/main/java/de/dennisguse/opentracks/TrackStoppedActivity.java b/src/main/java/de/dennisguse/opentracks/TrackStoppedActivity.java
index ddb916775..7dd6d9d73 100644
--- a/src/main/java/de/dennisguse/opentracks/TrackStoppedActivity.java
+++ b/src/main/java/de/dennisguse/opentracks/TrackStoppedActivity.java
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ public class TrackStoppedActivity extends AbstractTrackDeleteActivity implements
     }
 
     private void resumeTrackAndFinish() {
-        TrackRecordingServiceConnection.execute(this, (service, connection) -> {
+        TrackRecordingServiceConnection.executeForeground(this, (service, connection) -> {
             service.resumeTrack(trackId);
 
             Intent newIntent = IntentUtils.newIntent(TrackStoppedActivity.this, TrackRecordingActivity.class)
diff --git a/src/main/java/de/dennisguse/opentracks/services/TrackRecordingServiceConnection.java b/src/main/java/de/dennisguse/opentracks/services/TrackRecordingServiceConnection.java
index 8738ac7cd..26505d5ab 100644
--- a/src/main/java/de/dennisguse/opentracks/services/TrackRecordingServiceConnection.java
+++ b/src/main/java/de/dennisguse/opentracks/services/TrackRecordingServiceConnection.java
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ public class TrackRecordingServiceConnection {
 
     private static final String TAG = TrackRecordingServiceConnection.class.getSimpleName();
 
+    private static final int SERVICE_BIND_FLAG = BuildConfig.DEBUG ? Context.BIND_DEBUG_UNBIND : 0;
+
     private final Callback callback;
 
     private TrackRecordingService trackRecordingService;
@@ -81,8 +83,19 @@ public class TrackRecordingServiceConnection {
         }
 
         Log.i(TAG, "Binding the service.");
-        int flags = BuildConfig.DEBUG ? Context.BIND_DEBUG_UNBIND : 0;
-        context.bindService(new Intent(context, TrackRecordingService.class), serviceConnection, flags);
+
+        context.bindService(new Intent(context, TrackRecordingService.class), serviceConnection, SERVICE_BIND_FLAG);
+    }
+
+    public void bindWithStart(@NonNull Context context) {
+        if (trackRecordingService != null) {
+            callback.onConnected(trackRecordingService, this);
+            return;
+        }
+
+        Log.i(TAG, "Binding and starting the service (not in foreground).");
+
+        context.bindService(new Intent(context, TrackRecordingService.class), serviceConnection,  Context.BIND_AUTO_CREATE + SERVICE_BIND_FLAG);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -135,6 +148,15 @@ public class TrackRecordingServiceConnection {
     }
 
     public static void execute(Context context, Callback callback) {
+        Callback withUnbind = (service, connection) -> {
+            callback.onConnected(service, connection);
+            connection.unbind(context);
+        };
+        new TrackRecordingServiceConnection(withUnbind)
+                .bindWithStart(context);
+    }
+
+    public static void executeForeground(Context context, Callback callback) {
         Callback withUnbind = (service, connection) -> {
             callback.onConnected(service, connection);
             connection.unbind(context);