diff --git a/CHANGES.txt b/CHANGES.txt
index 04e300a..ab32112 100644
--- a/CHANGES.txt
+++ b/CHANGES.txt
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 2019-11-xx [0.17.0]
   - Add more configuration, customization, and registration info to help page
-  - Change default sig type to EdDSA
   - Add variables for $VERSION and $SITENAME
   - Add custom CSS to docroot/tracker.css to allow customization and include
     alternative tracker-purple.css
@@ -10,7 +9,9 @@
   - Add footer to /tracker with ZzzOT version and github link
   - Add config options to hide version footer on /tracker or change footer text
   - Tidy CHANGES.txt and add to plugin/
+  - Start tunnel in background after first install
   - Changes for new installs only:
+    - Change default sig type to EdDSA
     - Enhance presentation of help page
     - Modify docroot/index.html post-install to contain b32 footer
     - Only display warning about moving help.html if necessary
diff --git a/src/java/net/i2p/zzzot/ZzzOTController.java b/src/java/net/i2p/zzzot/ZzzOTController.java
index afd5fba..4ab7e78 100644
--- a/src/java/net/i2p/zzzot/ZzzOTController.java
+++ b/src/java/net/i2p/zzzot/ZzzOTController.java
@@ -196,14 +196,15 @@ public class ZzzOTController implements ClientApp {
             throw new IllegalArgumentException("Cannot open " + i2ptunnelConfig.getAbsolutePath() + ' ' + ioe);
         }
         TunnelController tun = new TunnelController(i2ptunnelProps, "tunnel.0.");
-        // start in foreground so we can get the destination
-        //tun.startTunnelBackground();
-        tun.startTunnel();
         if (dest != null) {
+            // start in foreground so we can get the destination
+            tun.startTunnel();
             List msgs = tun.clearMessages();
             for (Object s : msgs) {
                  _log.logAlways(Log.INFO, "NOTICE: ZzzOT Tunnel message: " + s);
             }
+        } else {
+            tun.startTunnelBackground();
         }
         _tunnel = tun;
     }