diff --git a/src/Simplex/Chat.hs b/src/Simplex/Chat.hs
index 8fbd978c51..3d25ba7cf3 100644
--- a/src/Simplex/Chat.hs
+++ b/src/Simplex/Chat.hs
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ newChatController
     expireCIFlags <- newTVarIO M.empty
     cleanupManagerAsync <- newTVarIO Nothing
     timedItemThreads <- atomically TM.empty
-    chatActivated <- newTVarIO (not backgroundMode)
+    chatActivated <- newTVarIO True
     showLiveItems <- newTVarIO False
     encryptLocalFiles <- newTVarIO False
     userXFTPFileConfig <- newTVarIO $ xftpFileConfig cfg