diff --git a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/contacts/activities/MainActivity.kt b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/contacts/activities/MainActivity.kt
index 97496fe1..90f0f9e4 100644
--- a/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/contacts/activities/MainActivity.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/kotlin/com/simplemobiletools/contacts/activities/MainActivity.kt
@@ -1,11 +1,15 @@
 package com.simplemobiletools.contacts.activities
 
+import android.Manifest
 import android.app.SearchManager
 import android.content.Context
 import android.content.Intent
+import android.content.pm.PackageManager
 import android.graphics.drawable.ColorDrawable
 import android.net.Uri
 import android.os.Bundle
+import android.support.v4.app.ActivityCompat
+import android.support.v4.content.ContextCompat
 import android.support.v4.view.MenuItemCompat
 import android.support.v4.view.ViewPager
 import android.support.v7.widget.SearchView
@@ -63,6 +67,12 @@ class MainActivity : SimpleActivity(), RefreshContactsListener {
             werePermissionsHandled = true
             if (it) {
                 handlePermission(PERMISSION_WRITE_CONTACTS) {
+                    // workaround for upgrading from version 3.x to 4.x as we added a new permission from an already granted permissions group
+                    val hasGetAccountsPermission = ContextCompat.checkSelfPermission(this, Manifest.permission.GET_ACCOUNTS) == PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED
+                    if (!hasGetAccountsPermission) {
+                        ActivityCompat.requestPermissions(this, arrayOf(Manifest.permission.GET_ACCOUNTS), 34)
+                    }
+
                     storeLocalAccountData()
                     initFragments()
                 }