diff --git a/src/Simplex/Chat/Core.hs b/src/Simplex/Chat/Core.hs
index 131b420bd9..5837e64f4d 100644
--- a/src/Simplex/Chat/Core.hs
+++ b/src/Simplex/Chat/Core.hs
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ simplexChatCore cfg@ChatConfig {confirmMigrations, testView, chatHooks} opts@Cha
       exitFailure
     run db@ChatDatabase {chatStore} = do
       u_ <- getSelectActiveUser chatStore
-      let backgroundMode = not maintenance
+      let backgroundMode = maintenance
       cc <- newChatController db u_ cfg opts backgroundMode
       u <- maybe (createActiveUser cc createBot) pure u_
       unless testView $ putStrLn $ "Current user: " <> userStr u