diff --git a/MyTracks/src/com/google/android/apps/mytracks/io/file/exporter/SaveAsyncTask.java b/MyTracks/src/com/google/android/apps/mytracks/io/file/exporter/SaveAsyncTask.java
index 70a13a5ba..bd30d1168 100644
--- a/MyTracks/src/com/google/android/apps/mytracks/io/file/exporter/SaveAsyncTask.java
+++ b/MyTracks/src/com/google/android/apps/mytracks/io/file/exporter/SaveAsyncTask.java
@@ -116,6 +116,7 @@ public class SaveAsyncTask extends AsyncTask<Void, Integer, Boolean> {
   @Override
   protected Boolean doInBackground(Void... params) {
     try {
+      Thread.currentThread().setPriority(Thread.MAX_PRIORITY);
       boolean isRecording = PreferencesUtils.getLong(saveActivity, R.string.recording_track_id_key)
           != PreferencesUtils.RECORDING_TRACK_ID_DEFAULT;
       boolean isPaused = PreferencesUtils.getBoolean(saveActivity,
diff --git a/MyTracks/src/com/google/android/apps/mytracks/io/file/importer/ImportAsyncTask.java b/MyTracks/src/com/google/android/apps/mytracks/io/file/importer/ImportAsyncTask.java
index 9f88b8d12..f2025e474 100644
--- a/MyTracks/src/com/google/android/apps/mytracks/io/file/importer/ImportAsyncTask.java
+++ b/MyTracks/src/com/google/android/apps/mytracks/io/file/importer/ImportAsyncTask.java
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ public class ImportAsyncTask extends AsyncTask<Void, Integer, Boolean> {
   @Override
   protected Boolean doInBackground(Void... params) {
     try {
+      Thread.currentThread().setPriority(Thread.MAX_PRIORITY);
       // Get the wake lock if not recording or paused
       boolean isRecording =
           PreferencesUtils.getLong(importActivity, R.string.recording_track_id_key)