diff --git a/mobile/android/base/Tabs.java b/mobile/android/base/Tabs.java
index 9a0c8a22a410..aa00bbf64cb6 100644
--- a/mobile/android/base/Tabs.java
+++ b/mobile/android/base/Tabs.java
@@ -621,7 +621,9 @@ public class Tabs implements GeckoEventListener {
         JSONObject args = new JSONObject();
         Tab added = null;
         boolean delayLoad = (flags & LOADURL_DELAY_LOAD) != 0;
-        boolean background = (flags & LOADURL_BACKGROUND) != 0;
+
+        // delayLoad implies background tab
+        boolean background = delayLoad || (flags & LOADURL_BACKGROUND) != 0;
 
         try {
             boolean isPrivate = (flags & LOADURL_PRIVATE) != 0;