diff --git a/app/src/main/kotlin/io/treehouses/remote/BaseInitialActivity.kt b/app/src/main/kotlin/io/treehouses/remote/BaseInitialActivity.kt
index 7909c5512..397e0a2c9 100644
--- a/app/src/main/kotlin/io/treehouses/remote/BaseInitialActivity.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/kotlin/io/treehouses/remote/BaseInitialActivity.kt
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package io.treehouses.remote
 
 import android.content.Context
 import android.content.SharedPreferences
+import android.os.Bundle
 import android.os.Handler
 import android.os.Looper
 import android.os.Message
@@ -36,6 +37,13 @@ open class BaseInitialActivity: PermissionActivity(), NavigationView.OnNavigatio
 
     protected lateinit var currentTitle: String
 
+    lateinit var mChatService: BluetoothChatService
+
+    override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
+        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)
+        mChatService = BluetoothChatService()
+    }
+
     override fun setChatService(service: BluetoothChatService) {
         mChatService = service
         mChatService.updateHandler(mHandler)
@@ -166,6 +174,5 @@ open class BaseInitialActivity: PermissionActivity(), NavigationView.OnNavigatio
     companion object {
         @JvmStatic
         var instance: BaseInitialActivity? = null
-        lateinit var mChatService: BluetoothChatService
     }
 }
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