diff --git a/.github/workflows/android_tests.yml b/.github/workflows/android_tests.yml
index ef0f030a7..d95fe639c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/android_tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/android_tests.yml
@@ -75,8 +75,9 @@ jobs:
           disk-size: 500M       # needed for saving org and json files
           force-avd-creation: false
           # it's picky on the parameters
-          emulator-options: -no-boot-anim -no-window -accel on # -gpu host
+          emulator-options: -no-boot-anim -no-window
           disable-animations: true
+          disable-spellchecker: true
           # starts the emulator, runs this script, then closes the emulator
           script: |
             # wait for it to finish booting, then take a screenshot
@@ -106,8 +107,9 @@ jobs:
           disk-size: 500M
           force-avd-creation: false
           disable-animations: true
-          # -gpu swiftshader_indirect
-          emulator-options: -no-snapshot-save -verbose -no-boot-anim -no-window
+          disable-spellchecker: true
+          # TODO test -gpu host
+          emulator-options: -no-snapshot-save -verbose -no-boot-anim -no-window -accel on # -gpu host
           script: bash ./github_on_emu_started.sh
 
       - name: upload the generated files
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/nononsenseapps/notepad/sync/orgsync/OrgSyncService.java b/app/src/main/java/com/nononsenseapps/notepad/sync/orgsync/OrgSyncService.java
index afe665cb5..02ee73ff8 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/nononsenseapps/notepad/sync/orgsync/OrgSyncService.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/nononsenseapps/notepad/sync/orgsync/OrgSyncService.java
@@ -17,33 +17,25 @@
 
 package com.nononsenseapps.notepad.sync.orgsync;
 
-import android.app.Notification;
-import android.app.NotificationManager;
-import android.app.PendingIntent;
 import android.app.Service;
 import android.content.Context;
 import android.content.Intent;
 import android.content.SharedPreferences;
 import android.database.ContentObserver;
 import android.net.Uri;
-import android.os.Build;
 import android.os.Handler;
 import android.os.HandlerThread;
 import android.os.IBinder;
 import android.os.Looper;
 import android.os.Message;
 import android.os.Process;
-import android.util.Log;
 
-import androidx.core.app.NotificationCompat;
 import androidx.preference.PreferenceManager;
 
 import com.nononsenseapps.helpers.NnnLogger;
-import com.nononsenseapps.helpers.NotificationHelper;
 import com.nononsenseapps.notepad.BuildConfig;
 import com.nononsenseapps.notepad.database.Task;
 import com.nononsenseapps.notepad.database.TaskList;
-import com.nononsenseapps.notepad.prefs.PrefsActivity;
 import com.nononsenseapps.notepad.prefs.SyncPrefs;
 import com.nononsenseapps.notepad.sync.SyncAdapter;
 
@@ -70,17 +62,25 @@ public class OrgSyncService extends Service {
 	private final ArrayList<SynchronizerInterface> synchronizers;
 
 	public static void start(Context context) {
+		NnnLogger.debug(OrgSyncService.class, "got here #1");
 		context.startService(new Intent(context, OrgSyncService.class) // TODO startservice. does this work correctly in newer android versions ?
 				.setAction(ACTION_START));
+		NnnLogger.debug(OrgSyncService.class, "got here #2");
 	}
 
+	// TODO this service crashes in API 23 - default image on github
+
 	public static void pause(Context context) {
+		NnnLogger.debug(OrgSyncService.class, "got here #3");
 		context.startService(new Intent(context, OrgSyncService.class) // TODO startservice. does this work correctly in newer android versions ?
 				.setAction(ACTION_PAUSE));
+		NnnLogger.debug(OrgSyncService.class, "got here #4");
 	}
 
 	public static void stop(Context context) {
+		NnnLogger.debug(OrgSyncService.class, "got here #5");
 		context.stopService(new Intent(context, OrgSyncService.class));
+		NnnLogger.debug(OrgSyncService.class, "got here #6");
 	}
 
 	public static boolean areAnyEnabled(Context context) {