diff --git a/firebase-sessions/src/main/kotlin/com/google/firebase/sessions/SessionLifecycleClient.kt b/firebase-sessions/src/main/kotlin/com/google/firebase/sessions/SessionLifecycleClient.kt
index bbdcd3e55d27..72755946c9f1 100644
--- a/firebase-sessions/src/main/kotlin/com/google/firebase/sessions/SessionLifecycleClient.kt
+++ b/firebase-sessions/src/main/kotlin/com/google/firebase/sessions/SessionLifecycleClient.kt
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import android.content.Context
 import android.content.Intent
 import android.content.ServiceConnection
 import android.os.Handler
+import android.os.HandlerThread
 import android.os.IBinder
 import android.os.Looper
 import android.os.Message
@@ -54,13 +55,18 @@ internal object SessionLifecycleClient {
   private var serviceBound: Boolean = false
   private val queuedMessages = LinkedBlockingDeque<Message>(MAX_QUEUED_MESSAGES)
   private var curSessionId: String = ""
+  private var handlerThread: HandlerThread = HandlerThread("FirebaseSessionsClient_HandlerThread")
 
+  init {
+    handlerThread.start()
+  }
+  
   /**
    * The callback class that will be used to receive updated session events from the
    * [SessionLifecycleService].
    */
   // TODO(rothbutter) should we use the main looper or is there one available in this SDK?
-  internal class ClientUpdateHandler : Handler(Looper.getMainLooper()) {
+  internal class ClientUpdateHandler : Handler(handlerThread.looper) {
     override fun handleMessage(msg: Message) {
       when (msg.what) {
         SessionLifecycleService.SESSION_UPDATED ->