diff --git a/services/core/jni/com_android_server_SystemServer.cpp b/services/core/jni/com_android_server_SystemServer.cpp
index c7d6b95083d20..e46490bb3fac9 100644
--- a/services/core/jni/com_android_server_SystemServer.cpp
+++ b/services/core/jni/com_android_server_SystemServer.cpp
@@ -22,15 +22,22 @@
 #include <cutils/properties.h>
 #include <utils/Log.h>
 #include <utils/misc.h>
+#include <utils/AndroidThreads.h>
 
 namespace android {
 
+static int start_sensor_service(void* /*unused*/) {
+    SensorService::instantiate();
+    return 0;
+}
+
 static void android_server_SystemServer_startSensorService(JNIEnv* /* env */, jobject /* clazz */) {
     char propBuf[PROPERTY_VALUE_MAX];
     property_get("system_init.startsensorservice", propBuf, "1");
     if (strcmp(propBuf, "1") == 0) {
-        // Start the sensor service
-        SensorService::instantiate();
+        // Start the sensor service in a new thread
+        createThreadEtc(start_sensor_service, nullptr,
+                        "StartSensorThread", PRIORITY_FOREGROUND);
     }
 }