diff --git a/briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/socialbackup/recover/CustodianReturnShardViewModel.java b/briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/socialbackup/recover/CustodianReturnShardViewModel.java
index 78c49b3a5..0ba6f54d0 100644
--- a/briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/socialbackup/recover/CustodianReturnShardViewModel.java
+++ b/briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/socialbackup/recover/CustodianReturnShardViewModel.java
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ public class CustodianReturnShardViewModel extends AndroidViewModel
 		this.ioExecutor = ioExecutor;
 		this.task = task;
 		qrCodeDecoder = new QrCodeDecoder(androidExecutor, ioExecutor, this);
+		task.cancel();
 		task.start(this);
 	}