diff --git a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/contacts/pro/helpers/Config.kt b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/contacts/pro/helpers/Config.kt
index d3e75cf3..76b047a7 100644
--- a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/contacts/pro/helpers/Config.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/contacts/pro/helpers/Config.kt
@@ -60,6 +60,10 @@ class Config(context: Context) : BaseConfig(context) {
         get() = prefs.getBoolean(SHOW_DIALPAD_LETTERS, true)
         set(showDialpadLetters) = prefs.edit().putBoolean(SHOW_DIALPAD_LETTERS, showDialpadLetters).apply()
 
+    var wasLocalAccountInitialized: Boolean
+        get() = prefs.getBoolean(WAS_LOCAL_ACCOUNT_INITIALIZED, false)
+        set(wasLocalAccountInitialized) = prefs.edit().putBoolean(WAS_LOCAL_ACCOUNT_INITIALIZED, wasLocalAccountInitialized).apply()
+
     var lastExportPath: String
         get() = prefs.getString(LAST_EXPORT_PATH, "")!!
         set(lastExportPath) = prefs.edit().putString(LAST_EXPORT_PATH, lastExportPath).apply()
diff --git a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/contacts/pro/helpers/Constants.kt b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/contacts/pro/helpers/Constants.kt
index 0b0bd411..81da9bd4 100644
--- a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/contacts/pro/helpers/Constants.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/contacts/pro/helpers/Constants.kt
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ const val SHOW_DIALPAD_BUTTON = "show_dialpad_button"
 const val SHOW_DIALPAD_LETTERS = "show_dialpad_letters"
 const val SPEED_DIAL = "speed_dial"
 const val LAST_EXPORT_PATH = "last_export_path"
+const val WAS_LOCAL_ACCOUNT_INITIALIZED = "was_local_account_initialized"
 
 const val CONTACT_ID = "contact_id"
 const val SMT_PRIVATE = "smt_private"   // used at the contact source of local contacts hidden from other apps
diff --git a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/contacts/pro/helpers/ContactsHelper.kt b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/contacts/pro/helpers/ContactsHelper.kt
index 65d9c798..7706146f 100644
--- a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/contacts/pro/helpers/ContactsHelper.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/contacts/pro/helpers/ContactsHelper.kt
@@ -746,6 +746,11 @@ class ContactsHelper(val context: Context) {
             return sources
         }
 
+        if (!context.config.wasLocalAccountInitialized) {
+            initializeLocalPhoneAccount()
+            context.config.wasLocalAccountInitialized = true
+        }
+
         val accounts = AccountManager.get(context).accounts
         accounts.forEach {
             if (ContentResolver.getIsSyncable(it, AUTHORITY) == 1) {
@@ -766,6 +771,24 @@ class ContactsHelper(val context: Context) {
         return sources
     }
 
+    // make sure the local Phone contact source is initialized and available
+    // https://stackoverflow.com/a/6096508/1967672
+    private fun initializeLocalPhoneAccount() {
+        try {
+            val operations = ArrayList<ContentProviderOperation>()
+            ContentProviderOperation.newInsert(RawContacts.CONTENT_URI).apply {
+                withValue(RawContacts.ACCOUNT_NAME, null)
+                withValue(RawContacts.ACCOUNT_TYPE, null)
+                operations.add(build())
+            }
+
+            val results = context.contentResolver.applyBatch(AUTHORITY, operations)
+            val rawContactUri = results.firstOrNull()?.uri ?: return
+            context.contentResolver.delete(rawContactUri, null, null)
+        } catch (ignored: Exception) {
+        }
+    }
+
     private fun getContactSourceType(accountName: String) = getDeviceContactSources().firstOrNull { it.name == accountName }?.type ?: ""
 
     private fun getContactProjection() = arrayOf(