diff --git a/mobile/android/base/GeckoApp.java b/mobile/android/base/GeckoApp.java
index 61eb981ee632..79317ed58546 100644
--- a/mobile/android/base/GeckoApp.java
+++ b/mobile/android/base/GeckoApp.java
@@ -1514,12 +1514,7 @@ abstract public class GeckoApp
         }
 
         GeckoAppShell.loadMozGlue();
-        if (sGeckoThread == null) {
-            sGeckoThread = new GeckoThread();
-            String uri = getURIFromIntent(getIntent());
-            if (uri != null && uri.length() > 0 && !uri.equals("about:home"))
-                sGeckoThread.start();
-        } else {
+        if (sGeckoThread != null) {
             // this happens when the GeckoApp activity is destroyed by android
             // without killing the entire application (see bug 769269)
             mIsRestoringActivity = true;
@@ -1627,17 +1622,19 @@ abstract public class GeckoApp
             passedUri = "about:empty";
         }
 
-        sGeckoThread.init(intent, passedUri, mRestoreMode);
+        if (!mIsRestoringActivity) {
+            sGeckoThread = new GeckoThread(intent, passedUri, mRestoreMode);
+        }
         if (!ACTION_DEBUG.equals(action) &&
             checkAndSetLaunchState(LaunchState.Launching, LaunchState.Launched)) {
-            sGeckoThread.reallyStart();
+            sGeckoThread.start();
         } else if (ACTION_DEBUG.equals(action) &&
             checkAndSetLaunchState(LaunchState.Launching, LaunchState.WaitForDebugger)) {
             mMainHandler.postDelayed(new Runnable() {
                 public void run() {
                     Log.i(LOGTAG, "Launching from debug intent after 5s wait");
                     setLaunchState(LaunchState.Launching);
-                    sGeckoThread.reallyStart();
+                    sGeckoThread.start();
                 }
             }, 1000 * 5 /* 5 seconds */);
             Log.i(LOGTAG, "Intent : ACTION_DEBUG - waiting 5s before launching");
diff --git a/mobile/android/base/GeckoThread.java b/mobile/android/base/GeckoThread.java
index ea8d77870882..5c5b53c18869 100644
--- a/mobile/android/base/GeckoThread.java
+++ b/mobile/android/base/GeckoThread.java
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ import android.os.SystemClock;
 import android.util.Log;
 
 import java.util.Locale;
-import java.util.concurrent.CountDownLatch;
 
 public class GeckoThread extends Thread {
     private static final String LOGTAG = "GeckoThread";
@@ -22,23 +21,12 @@ public class GeckoThread extends Thread {
     Intent mIntent;
     String mUri;
     int mRestoreMode;
-    CountDownLatch mStartSignal;
 
-    GeckoThread() {
-        mStartSignal = new CountDownLatch(1);
-        setName("Gecko");
-    }
-
-    public void init(Intent intent, String uri, int restoreMode) {
+    GeckoThread(Intent intent, String uri, int restoreMode) {
         mIntent = intent;
         mUri = uri;
         mRestoreMode = restoreMode;
-    }
-
-    public void reallyStart() {
-        mStartSignal.countDown();
-        if (getState() == Thread.State.NEW)
-            start();
+        setName("Gecko");
     }
 
     public void run() {
@@ -65,11 +53,6 @@ public class GeckoThread extends Thread {
         GeckoAppShell.loadGeckoLibs(resourcePath);
 
         Locale.setDefault(locale);
-
-        try {
-            mStartSignal.await();
-        } catch (Exception e) { }
-
         Resources res = app.getBaseContext().getResources();
         Configuration config = res.getConfiguration();
         config.locale = locale;