diff --git a/android/src/main/java/com/tailscale/ipn/MainActivity.kt b/android/src/main/java/com/tailscale/ipn/MainActivity.kt
index 7e905cd050..a4b9631d85 100644
--- a/android/src/main/java/com/tailscale/ipn/MainActivity.kt
+++ b/android/src/main/java/com/tailscale/ipn/MainActivity.kt
@@ -117,12 +117,13 @@ class MainActivity : ComponentActivity() {
           if (granted) {
             Log.d("VpnPermission", "VPN permission granted")
             viewModel.setVpnPrepared(true)
+            App.get().startVPN()
           } else {
             Log.d("VpnPermission", "VPN permission denied")
             viewModel.setVpnPrepared(false)
           }
         }
-        viewModel.setVpnPermissionLauncher(vpnPermissionLauncher)
+    viewModel.setVpnPermissionLauncher(vpnPermissionLauncher)
 
     setContent {
       AppTheme {
diff --git a/android/src/main/java/com/tailscale/ipn/ui/viewModel/MainViewModel.kt b/android/src/main/java/com/tailscale/ipn/ui/viewModel/MainViewModel.kt
index 3fc2316a2d..e857bbb3d7 100644
--- a/android/src/main/java/com/tailscale/ipn/ui/viewModel/MainViewModel.kt
+++ b/android/src/main/java/com/tailscale/ipn/ui/viewModel/MainViewModel.kt
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@ class MainViewModel : IpnViewModel() {
       vpnPermissionLauncher?.launch(vpnIntent)
     } else {
       setVpnPrepared(true)
+      startVPN()
     }
   }
 
@@ -119,7 +120,6 @@ class MainViewModel : IpnViewModel() {
     when {
       !isPrepared -> showVPNPermissionLauncherIfUnauthorized()
       state == Ipn.State.Running -> stopVPN()
-      else -> startVPN()
     }
   }