diff --git a/app/src/main/java/eu/faircode/email/FragmentAccounts.java b/app/src/main/java/eu/faircode/email/FragmentAccounts.java
index d4cfbd72c9..d085f173b2 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/eu/faircode/email/FragmentAccounts.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/eu/faircode/email/FragmentAccounts.java
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ public class FragmentAccounts extends FragmentBase {
                 if (outbox)
                     ServiceSend.start(context);
 
-                if (!now)
+                if (!now && !args.getBoolean("force"))
                     throw new IllegalArgumentException(context.getString(R.string.title_no_connection));
 
                 return null;
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/eu/faircode/email/FragmentFolders.java b/app/src/main/java/eu/faircode/email/FragmentFolders.java
index cf66754d27..4cffd7ae9c 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/eu/faircode/email/FragmentFolders.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/eu/faircode/email/FragmentFolders.java
@@ -421,7 +421,7 @@ public class FragmentFolders extends FragmentBase {
                 if (outbox)
                     ServiceSend.start(context);
 
-                if (!now)
+                if (!now && !args.getBoolean("force"))
                     throw new IllegalArgumentException(context.getString(R.string.title_no_connection));
 
                 return null;
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/eu/faircode/email/FragmentMessages.java b/app/src/main/java/eu/faircode/email/FragmentMessages.java
index 38686a8639..2afd296ec5 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/eu/faircode/email/FragmentMessages.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/eu/faircode/email/FragmentMessages.java
@@ -1607,7 +1607,7 @@ public class FragmentMessages extends FragmentBase implements SharedPreferences.
                 else
                     ServiceSynchronize.eval(context, "refresh");
 
-                if (!now)
+                if (!now && !args.getBoolean("force"))
                     throw new IllegalArgumentException(context.getString(R.string.title_no_connection));
 
                 return null;