diff --git a/lib/notifications.dart b/lib/notifications.dart
index b44f94aa1c..3609ca8f4f 100644
--- a/lib/notifications.dart
+++ b/lib/notifications.dart
@@ -47,7 +47,8 @@ class NotificationService {
     // TODO(#324) defer notif setup if user not logged into any accounts
     //   (in order to avoid calling for permissions)
 
-    ZulipBinding.instance.firebaseMessagingOnMessage.listen(_onRemoteMessage);
+    ZulipBinding.instance.firebaseMessagingOnMessage.listen(_onForegroundMessage);
+    ZulipBinding.instance.firebaseMessagingOnBackgroundMessage(_onBackgroundMessage);
 
     NotificationDisplayManager._init();
 
@@ -77,8 +78,27 @@ class NotificationService {
     token.value = value;
   }
 
-  static void _onRemoteMessage(FirebaseRemoteMessage message) {
+  static void _onForegroundMessage(FirebaseRemoteMessage message) {
     assert(debugLog("notif message: ${message.data}"));
+    _onRemoteMessage(message);
+  }
+
+  static Future<void> _onBackgroundMessage(FirebaseRemoteMessage message) async {
+    // This callback will run in a separate isolate from the rest of the app.
+    // See docs:
+    //   https://firebase.flutter.dev/docs/messaging/usage/#background-messages
+    assert(() {
+      debugLogEnabled = true;
+      return true;
+    }());
+    LiveZulipBinding.ensureInitialized();
+    NotificationDisplayManager._init();
+
+    assert(debugLog("notif message in background: ${message.data}"));
+    _onRemoteMessage(message);
+  }
+
+  static void _onRemoteMessage(FirebaseRemoteMessage message) {
     final data = FcmMessage.fromJson(message.data);
     switch (data) {
       case MessageFcmMessage(): NotificationDisplayManager._onMessageFcmMessage(data, message.data);