diff --git a/src/ch/blinkenlights/android/vanilla/MediaButtonReceiver.java b/src/ch/blinkenlights/android/vanilla/MediaButtonReceiver.java
index 41c2ff71..a4ef5a2f 100644
--- a/src/ch/blinkenlights/android/vanilla/MediaButtonReceiver.java
+++ b/src/ch/blinkenlights/android/vanilla/MediaButtonReceiver.java
@@ -186,15 +186,11 @@ public class MediaButtonReceiver extends BroadcastReceiver {
 		if (act == null)
 			return;
 
-		Intent intent = new Intent(context, PlaybackService.class).setAction(act);
+		Intent intent = new Intent(context, PlaybackService.class)
+			.setAction(act)
+			.putExtra(PlaybackService.EXTRA_EARLY_NOTIFICATION, true);
+
 		if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.O) {
-			// Since API 26, we can not use startService anymore if the service
-			// was not launched. startForegroundService() expects the service
-			// to call startForeground() within 5 sec, which is PROBABLY okay as
-			// any key event will start playing a song - probably.
-			// If this fails, we could still try the chromium hack and have
-			// PlaybackService:onCreate() start a fake notification.
-			// https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src/+/81033db0364139db8ee059623d8892f2b00a39ba
 			context.startForegroundService(intent);
 		} else {
 			context.startService(intent);
diff --git a/src/ch/blinkenlights/android/vanilla/PlaybackService.java b/src/ch/blinkenlights/android/vanilla/PlaybackService.java
index edc1fdfc..cfe45a57 100644
--- a/src/ch/blinkenlights/android/vanilla/PlaybackService.java
+++ b/src/ch/blinkenlights/android/vanilla/PlaybackService.java
@@ -177,6 +177,10 @@ public final class PlaybackService extends Service
 	 * Pause music and hide the notifcation.
 	 */
 	public static final String ACTION_CLOSE_NOTIFICATION = "ch.blinkenlights.android.vanilla.CLOSE_NOTIFICATION";
+	/**
+	 * Whether we should create a foreground notification as early as possible.
+	 */
+	public static final String EXTRA_EARLY_NOTIFICATION = "extra_early_notification";
 
 	/**
 	 * Visibility modes of the notification.
@@ -515,10 +519,15 @@ public final class PlaybackService extends Service
 	}
 
 	@Override
-	public int onStartCommand(Intent intent, int flags, int startId)
-	{
+	public int onStartCommand(Intent intent, int flags, int startId) {
 		if (intent != null) {
-			String action = intent.getAction();
+			final String action = intent.getAction();
+			final boolean earlyNotification = intent.hasExtra(EXTRA_EARLY_NOTIFICATION);
+
+			if (earlyNotification) {
+				Song song = mCurrentSong != null ? mCurrentSong : new Song(-1);
+				startForeground(NOTIFICATION_ID, createNotification(song, mState, VISIBILITY_WHEN_PLAYING));
+			}
 
 			if (ACTION_TOGGLE_PLAYBACK.equals(action)) {
 				playPause();