diff --git a/mobile/android/base/favicons/LoadFaviconTask.java b/mobile/android/base/favicons/LoadFaviconTask.java
index 3e6b98fd679..c5e43ec78ac 100644
--- a/mobile/android/base/favicons/LoadFaviconTask.java
+++ b/mobile/android/base/favicons/LoadFaviconTask.java
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import org.mozilla.gecko.GeckoAppShell;
 import org.mozilla.gecko.db.BrowserDB;
 import org.mozilla.gecko.gfx.BitmapUtils;
 import org.mozilla.gecko.util.GeckoJarReader;
+import org.mozilla.gecko.util.ThreadUtils;
 import org.mozilla.gecko.util.UiAsyncTask;
 import static org.mozilla.gecko.favicons.Favicons.sContext;
 
@@ -212,8 +213,21 @@ public class LoadFaviconTask extends UiAsyncTask<Void, Void, Bitmap> {
     }
 
     static void closeHTTPClient() {
-        if (sHttpClient != null) {
-            sHttpClient.close();
+        // This work must be done on a background thread because it shuts down
+        // the connection pool, which typically involves closing a connection --
+        // which counts as network activity.
+        if (ThreadUtils.isOnBackgroundThread()) {
+            if (sHttpClient != null) {
+                sHttpClient.close();
+            }
+            return;
         }
+
+        ThreadUtils.postToBackgroundThread(new Runnable() {
+            @Override
+            public void run() {
+                LoadFaviconTask.closeHTTPClient();
+            }
+        });
     }
 }