diff --git a/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml b/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
index 867162373..d6f6e0fc1 100644
--- a/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -25,6 +25,12 @@
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ENFORCE_UPDATE_OWNERSHIP" />
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.UPDATE_PACKAGES_WITHOUT_USER_ACTION" />
 
+    <!-- Permission used to externally trigger repository updates -->
+    <permission
+        android:name="${applicationId}.permission.UPDATE_REPOS"
+        android:protectionLevel="signature|privileged" />
+    <uses-permission android:name="${applicationId}.permission.UPDATE_REPOS" />
+
     <application
         android:name="org.fdroid.App"
         android:allowBackup="true"
@@ -115,6 +121,17 @@
             android:screenOrientation="fullSensor"
             tools:ignore="DiscouragedApi"
             tools:replace="screenOrientation" />
+        <activity
+            android:name="org.fdroid.ui.repositories.UpdateRepoActivity"
+            android:excludeFromRecents="true"
+            android:exported="true"
+            android:launchMode="singleInstance"
+            android:permission="${applicationId}.permission.UPDATE_REPOS">
+            <intent-filter>
+                <action android:name="org.fdroid.action.UPDATE_REPOS" />
+                <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
+            </intent-filter>
+        </activity>
 
         <service
             android:name="org.fdroid.install.AppInstallService"
diff --git a/app/src/main/kotlin/org/fdroid/repo/RepoUpdateWorker.kt b/app/src/main/kotlin/org/fdroid/repo/RepoUpdateWorker.kt
index 1e3e717f1..792dd4fa8 100644
--- a/app/src/main/kotlin/org/fdroid/repo/RepoUpdateWorker.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/kotlin/org/fdroid/repo/RepoUpdateWorker.kt
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ constructor(
     }
     try {
       if (canStartForegroundService(applicationContext)) setForeground(getForegroundInfo())
+      else log.info { "Not using foreground service" }
     } catch (e: Exception) {
       log.error(e) { "Error while running setForeground: " }
     }
diff --git a/app/src/main/kotlin/org/fdroid/ui/repositories/UpdateRepoActivity.kt b/app/src/main/kotlin/org/fdroid/ui/repositories/UpdateRepoActivity.kt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8d3e6babb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/src/main/kotlin/org/fdroid/ui/repositories/UpdateRepoActivity.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+package org.fdroid.ui.repositories
+
+import android.os.Bundle
+import android.util.Log
+import androidx.activity.ComponentActivity
+import org.fdroid.repo.RepoUpdateWorker
+
+private val TAG = UpdateRepoActivity::class.java.simpleName
+
+/**
+ * This activity allows OS components to trigger a repository update. One known use-case for this is
+ * to do an initial repository update during SetupWizard, so app data is available when needed, e.g.
+ * for restoring app backups.
+ */
+class UpdateRepoActivity : ComponentActivity() {
+
+  override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
+    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)
+    if (intent.action != "org.fdroid.action.UPDATE_REPOS") {
+      Log.w(TAG, "Unknown action: ${intent.action}")
+      return
+    }
+    Log.i(TAG, "Intent received, updating repos...")
+    RepoUpdateWorker.updateNow(this)
+    finish()
+  }
+}