diff --git a/Reef/src/main/java/dev/pranav/reef/MainActivity.kt b/Reef/src/main/java/dev/pranav/reef/MainActivity.kt
index fdc8fcd..c10c957 100644
--- a/Reef/src/main/java/dev/pranav/reef/MainActivity.kt
+++ b/Reef/src/main/java/dev/pranav/reef/MainActivity.kt
@@ -670,7 +670,9 @@ class MainActivity: ComponentActivity() {
                 }
             }
         }
-        startForegroundService(Intent(this, FocusModeService::class.java))
+        startForegroundService(Intent(this, FocusModeService::class.java).apply {
+            action = FocusModeService.ACTION_START
+        })
     }
 
     private fun pauseFocusMode() {
diff --git a/Reef/src/main/java/dev/pranav/reef/accessibility/FocusModeService.kt b/Reef/src/main/java/dev/pranav/reef/accessibility/FocusModeService.kt
index a9904c7..1b69ed8 100644
--- a/Reef/src/main/java/dev/pranav/reef/accessibility/FocusModeService.kt
+++ b/Reef/src/main/java/dev/pranav/reef/accessibility/FocusModeService.kt
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import android.content.pm.ServiceInfo
 import android.os.Build
 import android.os.CountDownTimer
 import android.os.IBinder
+import android.util.Log
 import androidx.core.app.NotificationCompat
 import androidx.core.app.NotificationManagerCompat
 import androidx.core.app.ServiceCompat
@@ -34,6 +35,7 @@ class FocusModeService: Service() {
         private const val BREAK_ALERT_NOTIFICATION_ID = 2
         private const val COMPLETE_NOTIFICATION_ID = 3
         const val ACTION_TIMER_UPDATED = "dev.pranav.reef.TIMER_UPDATED"
+        const val ACTION_START = "dev.pranav.reef.START_TIMER"
         const val ACTION_PAUSE = "dev.pranav.reef.PAUSE_TIMER"
         const val ACTION_RESUME = "dev.pranav.reef.RESUME_TIMER"
         const val ACTION_RESTART = "dev.pranav.reef.RESTART_TIMER"
@@ -43,7 +45,6 @@ class FocusModeService: Service() {
 
     private val notificationManager by lazy { NotificationManagerCompat.from(this) }
     private val systemNotificationManager by lazy { getSystemService(NOTIFICATION_SERVICE) as NotificationManager }
-
     private var countDownTimer: CountDownTimer? = null
     private var notificationBuilder: NotificationCompat.Builder? = null
     private var previousInterruptionFilter: Int? = null
@@ -79,21 +80,21 @@ class FocusModeService: Service() {
     }
 
     override fun onStartCommand(intent: Intent?, flags: Int, startId: Int): Int {
-        val isFocusActive = prefs.getBoolean("focus_mode", false)
-
-        if (!isFocusActive && intent?.action == null) {
-            stopSelf()
+        if (intent?.action == null) {
             return START_NOT_STICKY
         }
 
-        promoteToForeground()
+        if (intent.action != ACTION_PAUSE) {
+            promoteToForeground()
+        }
 
-        when (intent?.action) {
+        when (intent.action) {
             ACTION_PAUSE -> pauseTimer()
             ACTION_RESUME -> resumeTimer()
             ACTION_RESTART -> restartCurrentPhase()
-            else -> startTimer()
+            ACTION_START -> startTimer()
         }
+
         return START_STICKY
     }