diff --git a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/persistance/DatabaseBackend.java b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/persistance/DatabaseBackend.java
index e6d0e290..45e4eb17 100644
--- a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/persistance/DatabaseBackend.java
+++ b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/persistance/DatabaseBackend.java
@@ -1394,37 +1394,6 @@ public class DatabaseBackend extends SQLiteOpenHelper {
 				deleteArgs);
 	}
 
-	public boolean startTimeCountExceedsThreshold() {
-		SQLiteDatabase db = this.getWritableDatabase();
-		long cleanBeforeTimestamp = System.currentTimeMillis() - Config.FREQUENT_RESTARTS_DETECTION_WINDOW;
-		db.execSQL("delete from "+START_TIMES_TABLE+" where timestamp < "+cleanBeforeTimestamp);
-		ContentValues values = new ContentValues();
-		values.put("timestamp",System.currentTimeMillis());
-		db.insert(START_TIMES_TABLE,null,values);
-		String[] columns = new String[]{"count(timestamp)"};
-		Cursor cursor = db.query(START_TIMES_TABLE,columns,null,null,null,null,null);
-		int count;
-		if (cursor.moveToFirst()) {
-			count = cursor.getInt(0);
-		} else {
-			count = 0;
-		}
-		cursor.close();
-		Log.d(Config.LOGTAG,"start time counter reached "+count);
-		return count >= Config.FREQUENT_RESTARTS_THRESHOLD;
-	}
-
-	public void clearStartTimeCounter(boolean justOne) {
-		SQLiteDatabase db = this.getWritableDatabase();
-		if (justOne) {
-			db.execSQL("delete from "+START_TIMES_TABLE+" where timestamp in (select timestamp from "+START_TIMES_TABLE+" order by timestamp desc limit 1)");
-			Log.d(Config.LOGTAG,"do not count start up after being swiped away");
-		} else {
-			Log.d(Config.LOGTAG,"resetting start time counter");
-			db.execSQL("delete from " + START_TIMES_TABLE);
-		}
-	}
-
 	public List<ShortcutService.FrequentContact> getFrequentContacts(int days) {
 		SQLiteDatabase db = this.getReadableDatabase();
 		final String SQL = "select "+Conversation.TABLENAME+"."+Conversation.ACCOUNT+","+Conversation.TABLENAME+"."+Conversation.CONTACTJID+" from "+Conversation.TABLENAME+" join "+Message.TABLENAME+" on conversations.uuid=messages.conversationUuid where messages.status!=0 and carbon==0  and conversations.mode=0 and messages.timeSent>=? group by conversations.uuid order by count(body) desc limit 4;";
diff --git a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/services/XmppConnectionService.java b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/services/XmppConnectionService.java
index c4048a3b..b780c9c6 100644
--- a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/services/XmppConnectionService.java
+++ b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/services/XmppConnectionService.java
@@ -999,12 +999,9 @@ public class XmppConnectionService extends Service {
 		Log.d(Config.LOGTAG,"restoring accounts...");
 		this.accounts = databaseBackend.getAccounts();
 
-		if (Config.FREQUENT_RESTARTS_THRESHOLD != 0
-				&& Config.FREQUENT_RESTARTS_DETECTION_WINDOW != 0
-				&& !keepForegroundService()
-				&& databaseBackend.startTimeCountExceedsThreshold()) {
+		if (this.accounts.size() == 0 && Arrays.asList("Sony","Sony Ericsson").contains(Build.MANUFACTURER)) {
 			getPreferences().edit().putBoolean(SettingsActivity.KEEP_FOREGROUND_SERVICE,true).commit();
-			Log.d(Config.LOGTAG,"number of restarts exceeds threshold. enabling foreground service");
+			Log.d(Config.LOGTAG,Build.MANUFACTURER+" is on blacklist. enabling foreground service");
 		}
 
 		restoreFromDatabase();
@@ -1107,7 +1104,6 @@ public class XmppConnectionService extends Service {
 
 	private void logoutAndSave(boolean stop) {
 		int activeAccounts = 0;
-		databaseBackend.clearStartTimeCounter(true); // regular swipes don't count towards restart counter
 		for (final Account account : accounts) {
 			if (account.getStatus() != Account.State.DISABLED) {
 				activeAccounts++;
@@ -3907,15 +3903,6 @@ public class XmppConnectionService extends Service {
 		conversation.setBookmark(bookmark);
 	}
 
-	public void clearStartTimeCounter() {
-		mDatabaseExecutor.execute(new Runnable() {
-			@Override
-			public void run() {
-				databaseBackend.clearStartTimeCounter(false);
-			}
-		});
-	}
-
 	public boolean verifyFingerprints(Contact contact, List<XmppUri.Fingerprint> fingerprints) {
 		boolean needsRosterWrite = false;
 		boolean performedVerification = false;
diff --git a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/SettingsActivity.java b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/SettingsActivity.java
index d48839cd..ad24b7b0 100644
--- a/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/SettingsActivity.java
+++ b/src/main/java/eu/siacs/conversations/ui/SettingsActivity.java
@@ -353,10 +353,6 @@ public class SettingsActivity extends XmppActivity implements
 				}
 			}
 		} else if (name.equals(KEEP_FOREGROUND_SERVICE)) {
-			boolean foreground_service = preferences.getBoolean(KEEP_FOREGROUND_SERVICE,false);
-			if (!foreground_service) {
-				xmppConnectionService.clearStartTimeCounter();
-			}
 			xmppConnectionService.toggleForegroundService();
 		} else if (resendPresence.contains(name)) {
 			if (xmppConnectionServiceBound) {