diff --git a/mobile/android/geckoview/src/main/java/org/mozilla/gecko/process/GeckoProcessManager.java b/mobile/android/geckoview/src/main/java/org/mozilla/gecko/process/GeckoProcessManager.java
index 667a98cdceea..a72fbcba0f77 100644
--- a/mobile/android/geckoview/src/main/java/org/mozilla/gecko/process/GeckoProcessManager.java
+++ b/mobile/android/geckoview/src/main/java/org/mozilla/gecko/process/GeckoProcessManager.java
@@ -307,7 +307,7 @@ public final class GeckoProcessManager extends IProcessManager.Stub {
     }
 
     protected void onAppBackground() {
-      setPriorityLevel(PriorityLevel.BACKGROUND);
+      setPriorityLevel(PriorityLevel.IDLE);
     }
   }