diff --git a/app/src/main/kotlin/io/treehouses/remote/BaseInitialActivity.kt b/app/src/main/kotlin/io/treehouses/remote/BaseInitialActivity.kt
index 397e0a2c9..7e2d5cb4f 100644
--- a/app/src/main/kotlin/io/treehouses/remote/BaseInitialActivity.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/kotlin/io/treehouses/remote/BaseInitialActivity.kt
@@ -51,6 +51,9 @@ open class BaseInitialActivity: PermissionActivity(), NavigationView.OnNavigatio
     }
 
     override fun getChatService(): BluetoothChatService {
+        if (!this::mChatService.isInitialized) {
+            mChatService = BluetoothChatService()
+        }
         return mChatService
     }