diff --git a/update_attempter.cc b/update_attempter.cc
index e49a551..c9ee712 100644
--- a/update_attempter.cc
+++ b/update_attempter.cc
@@ -248,7 +248,9 @@
               postinstall_runner_action.get());
 
   SetStatusAndNotify(UPDATE_STATUS_CHECKING_FOR_UPDATE);
-  processor_->StartProcessing();
+
+  // Start the processing asynchronously to unblock the event loop.
+  g_idle_add(&StaticStartProcessing, this);
 }
 
 void UpdateAttempter::CheckForUpdate(const std::string& app_version,
@@ -527,6 +529,11 @@
   return reinterpret_cast<UpdateAttempter*>(data)->ManagePriorityCallback();
 }
 
+gboolean UpdateAttempter::StaticStartProcessing(gpointer data) {
+  reinterpret_cast<UpdateAttempter*>(data)->processor_->StartProcessing();
+  return FALSE;  // Don't call this callback again.
+}
+
 bool UpdateAttempter::ManagePriorityCallback() {
   SetPriority(utils::kProcessPriorityNormal);
   manage_priority_source_ = NULL;