diff --git a/app/src/main/kotlin/at/bitfire/davdroid/repository/AccountRepository.kt b/app/src/main/kotlin/at/bitfire/davdroid/repository/AccountRepository.kt
index e1a896b49..87e5e5e62 100644
--- a/app/src/main/kotlin/at/bitfire/davdroid/repository/AccountRepository.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/kotlin/at/bitfire/davdroid/repository/AccountRepository.kt
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ class AccountRepository @Inject constructor(
             val defaultSyncInterval = settingsManager.getLong(Settings.DEFAULT_SYNC_INTERVAL)
 
             // Configure CardDAV service
+            val addrBookAuthority = context.getString(R.string.address_books_authority)
             if (config.cardDAV != null) {
                 // insert CardDAV service
                 val id = insertService(accountName, Service.TYPE_CARDDAV, config.cardDAV)
@@ -94,6 +95,9 @@ class AccountRepository @Inject constructor(
 
                 // start CardDAV service detection (refresh collections)
                 RefreshCollectionsWorker.enqueue(context, id)
+
+                // set default sync interval for address books
+                accountSettings.setSyncInterval(addrBookAuthority, defaultSyncInterval)
             }
 
             // Configure CalDAV service
diff --git a/app/src/main/kotlin/at/bitfire/davdroid/settings/AccountSettings.kt b/app/src/main/kotlin/at/bitfire/davdroid/settings/AccountSettings.kt
index c67eeab4a..c077904fd 100644
--- a/app/src/main/kotlin/at/bitfire/davdroid/settings/AccountSettings.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/kotlin/at/bitfire/davdroid/settings/AccountSettings.kt
@@ -217,11 +217,14 @@ class AccountSettings(
      * @return sync interval in seconds; *[SYNC_INTERVAL_MANUALLY]* if manual sync; *null* if not set
      */
     fun getSyncInterval(authority: String): Long? {
-        if (ContentResolver.getIsSyncable(account, authority) <= 0)
+        val addrBookAuthority = context.getString(R.string.address_books_authority)
+
+        if (ContentResolver.getIsSyncable(account, authority) <= 0
+            && authority != addrBookAuthority)
             return null
 
         val key = when {
-            authority == context.getString(R.string.address_books_authority) ->
+            authority == addrBookAuthority ->
                 KEY_SYNC_INTERVAL_ADDRESSBOOKS
             authority == CalendarContract.AUTHORITY ->
                 KEY_SYNC_INTERVAL_CALENDARS