diff --git a/OpenKeychain/src/main/java/org/sufficientlysecure/keychain/service/KeychainService.java b/OpenKeychain/src/main/java/org/sufficientlysecure/keychain/service/KeychainService.java
index 2bd2b1b19..c3e9d9384 100644
--- a/OpenKeychain/src/main/java/org/sufficientlysecure/keychain/service/KeychainService.java
+++ b/OpenKeychain/src/main/java/org/sufficientlysecure/keychain/service/KeychainService.java
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ public class KeychainService extends Service implements Progressable {
     public static final String ACTION_CANCEL = "action_cancel";
 
     // this attribute can possibly merged with the one above? not sure...
-    private CancellationSignal mActionCanceled = new CancellationSignal();
+    private CancellationSignal mActionCanceled;
 
     ThreadLocal<Messenger> mMessenger = new ThreadLocal<>();
 
@@ -91,6 +91,8 @@ public class KeychainService extends Service implements Progressable {
             return START_NOT_STICKY;
         }
 
+        mActionCanceled = new CancellationSignal();
+
         Runnable actionRunnable = new Runnable() {
             @Override
             public void run() {