diff --git a/src/de/danoeh/antennapod/service/PlaybackService.java b/src/de/danoeh/antennapod/service/PlaybackService.java
index c414e0992..441a57baa 100644
--- a/src/de/danoeh/antennapod/service/PlaybackService.java
+++ b/src/de/danoeh/antennapod/service/PlaybackService.java
@@ -976,61 +976,97 @@ public class PlaybackService extends Service {
 		sendBroadcast(intent);
 	}
 
+	/** Used by setupNotification to load notification data in another thread. */
+	private AsyncTask<Void, Void, Void> notificationSetupTask;
+
 	/** Prepares notification and starts the service in the foreground. */
 	@SuppressLint("NewApi")
 	private void setupNotification() {
-		PendingIntent pIntent = PendingIntent.getActivity(this, 0,
+		final PendingIntent pIntent = PendingIntent.getActivity(this, 0,
 				PlaybackService.getPlayerActivityIntent(this),
 				PendingIntent.FLAG_UPDATE_CURRENT);
 
-		Bitmap icon = null;
-		if (android.os.Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= 11) {
-			if (media != null && media != null) {
-				int iconSize = getResources().getDimensionPixelSize(
-						android.R.dimen.notification_large_icon_width);
-				icon = BitmapDecoder.decodeBitmapFromWorkerTaskResource(
-						iconSize, media);
+		if (notificationSetupTask != null) {
+			notificationSetupTask.cancel(true);
+		}
+		notificationSetupTask = new AsyncTask<Void, Void, Void>() {
+			Bitmap icon = null;
+
+			@Override
+			protected Void doInBackground(Void... params) {
+				if (AppConfig.DEBUG)
+					Log.d(TAG, "Starting background work");
+				if (android.os.Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= 11) {
+					if (media != null && media != null) {
+						int iconSize = getResources().getDimensionPixelSize(
+								android.R.dimen.notification_large_icon_width);
+						icon = BitmapDecoder
+								.decodeBitmapFromWorkerTaskResource(iconSize,
+										media);
+					}
+
+				}
+				if (icon == null) {
+					icon = BitmapFactory.decodeResource(getResources(),
+							R.drawable.ic_stat_antenna);
+				}
+
+				return null;
 			}
 
-		}
-		if (icon == null) {
-			icon = BitmapFactory.decodeResource(getResources(),
-					R.drawable.ic_stat_antenna);
+			@Override
+			protected void onPostExecute(Void result) {
+				super.onPostExecute(result);
+				if (!isCancelled() && status == PlayerStatus.PLAYING
+						&& media != null) {
+					String contentText = media.getFeedTitle();
+					String contentTitle = media.getEpisodeTitle();
+					Notification notification = null;
+					if (android.os.Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= 16) {
+						Intent pauseButtonIntent = new Intent(
+								PlaybackService.this, PlaybackService.class);
+						pauseButtonIntent.putExtra(
+								MediaButtonReceiver.EXTRA_KEYCODE,
+								KeyEvent.KEYCODE_MEDIA_PAUSE);
+						PendingIntent pauseButtonPendingIntent = PendingIntent
+								.getService(PlaybackService.this, 0,
+										pauseButtonIntent,
+										PendingIntent.FLAG_UPDATE_CURRENT);
+						Notification.Builder notificationBuilder = new Notification.Builder(
+								PlaybackService.this)
+								.setContentTitle(contentTitle)
+								.setContentText(contentText)
+								.setOngoing(true)
+								.setContentIntent(pIntent)
+								.setLargeIcon(icon)
+								.setSmallIcon(R.drawable.ic_stat_antenna)
+								.addAction(android.R.drawable.ic_media_pause,
+										getString(R.string.pause_label),
+										pauseButtonPendingIntent);
+						notification = notificationBuilder.build();
+					} else {
+						NotificationCompat.Builder notificationBuilder = new NotificationCompat.Builder(
+								PlaybackService.this)
+								.setContentTitle(contentTitle)
+								.setContentText(contentText).setOngoing(true)
+								.setContentIntent(pIntent).setLargeIcon(icon)
+								.setSmallIcon(R.drawable.ic_stat_antenna);
+						notification = notificationBuilder.getNotification();
+					}
+					startForeground(NOTIFICATION_ID, notification);
+					if (AppConfig.DEBUG)
+						Log.d(TAG, "Notification set up");
+				}
+			}
+
+		};
+		if (android.os.Build.VERSION.SDK_INT > android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES.GINGERBREAD_MR1) {
+			notificationSetupTask
+					.executeOnExecutor(AsyncTask.THREAD_POOL_EXECUTOR);
+		} else {
+			notificationSetupTask.execute();
 		}
 
-		String contentText = media.getFeedTitle();
-		String contentTitle = media.getEpisodeTitle();
-		Notification notification = null;
-		if (android.os.Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= 16) {
-			Intent pauseButtonIntent = new Intent(this, PlaybackService.class);
-			pauseButtonIntent.putExtra(MediaButtonReceiver.EXTRA_KEYCODE,
-					KeyEvent.KEYCODE_MEDIA_PAUSE);
-			PendingIntent pauseButtonPendingIntent = PendingIntent.getService(
-					this, 0, pauseButtonIntent,
-					PendingIntent.FLAG_UPDATE_CURRENT);
-			Notification.Builder notificationBuilder = new Notification.Builder(
-					this)
-					.setContentTitle(contentTitle)
-					.setContentText(contentText)
-					.setOngoing(true)
-					.setContentIntent(pIntent)
-					.setLargeIcon(icon)
-					.setSmallIcon(R.drawable.ic_stat_antenna)
-					.addAction(android.R.drawable.ic_media_pause,
-							getString(R.string.pause_label),
-							pauseButtonPendingIntent);
-			notification = notificationBuilder.build();
-		} else {
-			NotificationCompat.Builder notificationBuilder = new NotificationCompat.Builder(
-					this).setContentTitle(contentTitle)
-					.setContentText(contentText).setOngoing(true)
-					.setContentIntent(pIntent).setLargeIcon(icon)
-					.setSmallIcon(R.drawable.ic_stat_antenna);
-			notification = notificationBuilder.getNotification();
-		}
-		startForeground(NOTIFICATION_ID, notification);
-		if (AppConfig.DEBUG)
-			Log.d(TAG, "Notification set up");
 	}
 
 	/**