diff --git a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/gallery/pro/activities/MainActivity.kt b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/gallery/pro/activities/MainActivity.kt
index c53acb145..189905f29 100644
--- a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/gallery/pro/activities/MainActivity.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/gallery/pro/activities/MainActivity.kt
@@ -153,6 +153,14 @@ class MainActivity : SimpleActivity(), DirectoryOperationsListener {
         directories_switch_searching.setOnClickListener {
             launchSearchActivity()
         }
+
+        // just request the permission, tryLoadGallery will then trigger in onResume
+        handlePermission(PERMISSION_WRITE_STORAGE) {
+            if (!it) {
+                toast(R.string.no_storage_permissions)
+                finish()
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     override fun onStart() {
@@ -431,27 +439,22 @@ class MainActivity : SimpleActivity(), DirectoryOperationsListener {
     }
 
     private fun tryLoadGallery() {
-        handlePermission(PERMISSION_WRITE_STORAGE) {
-            if (it) {
-                if (!config.wasUpgradedFromFreeShown && isPackageInstalled("com.simplemobiletools.gallery")) {
-                    ConfirmationDialog(this, "", R.string.upgraded_from_free, R.string.ok, 0) {}
-                    config.wasUpgradedFromFreeShown = true
-                }
-
-                checkOTGPath()
-                checkDefaultSpamFolders()
-
-                if (config.showAll) {
-                    showAllMedia()
-                } else {
-                    getDirectories()
-                }
-
-                setupLayoutManager()
-            } else {
-                toast(R.string.no_storage_permissions)
-                finish()
+        if (hasPermission(PERMISSION_WRITE_STORAGE)) {
+            if (!config.wasUpgradedFromFreeShown && isPackageInstalled("com.simplemobiletools.gallery")) {
+                ConfirmationDialog(this, "", R.string.upgraded_from_free, R.string.ok, 0) {}
+                config.wasUpgradedFromFreeShown = true
             }
+
+            checkOTGPath()
+            checkDefaultSpamFolders()
+
+            if (config.showAll) {
+                showAllMedia()
+            } else {
+                getDirectories()
+            }
+
+            setupLayoutManager()
         }
     }