diff --git a/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml b/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
index 7154b5f..0a0aa4a 100644
--- a/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -161,6 +161,11 @@
             android:exported="false"
             />
 
+        <service
+            android:name=".LogService"
+            android:exported="false"
+            />
+
         <service
             android:name=".NotificationService"
             android:exported="false"
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/io/benwiegand/projection/geargrinder/DebugActivity.java b/app/src/main/java/io/benwiegand/projection/geargrinder/DebugActivity.java
index 229f96a..071219e 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/io/benwiegand/projection/geargrinder/DebugActivity.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/io/benwiegand/projection/geargrinder/DebugActivity.java
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import android.os.Looper;
 import android.util.Log;
 import android.view.Menu;
 import android.view.MenuItem;
+import android.widget.Button;
 import android.widget.EditText;
 import android.widget.Toast;
 
@@ -41,6 +42,7 @@ import java.io.File;
 import java.io.IOException;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.Optional;
 import java.util.Set;
 import java.util.function.Consumer;
 import java.util.function.Supplier;
@@ -48,14 +50,16 @@ import java.util.function.Supplier;
 import io.benwiegand.projection.geargrinder.exception.BluetoothConnectionException;
 import io.benwiegand.projection.geargrinder.logs.LogUiAdapter;
 import io.benwiegand.projection.geargrinder.logs.LogcatReader;
+import io.benwiegand.projection.geargrinder.service.GeargrinderServiceConnector;
 
-public class DebugActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
+public class DebugActivity extends AppCompatActivity implements GeargrinderServiceConnector.ConnectionListener, LogcatReader.UiLogListener {
     private static final String TAG = DebugActivity.class.getSimpleName();
 
     // useful for debugging
     private static final boolean AUTOSTART_TCP_SERVER = false;
 
-    private LogcatReader logcatReader;
+    private GeargrinderServiceConnector connector;
+    private final LogUiAdapter logUiAdapter = new LogUiAdapter();
     private boolean autoScroll = true;
 
     @Override
@@ -69,21 +73,12 @@ public class DebugActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
             return insets;
         });
 
-        findViewById(R.id.log_marker_button).setOnClickListener(v -> logcatReader.addMarker());
+        findViewById(R.id.log_marker_button).setOnClickListener(v -> getLogcatReader().ifPresent(LogcatReader::addMarker));
 
-        findViewById(R.id.toggle_recording_button).setOnClickListener(v -> {
+        findViewById(R.id.toggle_recording_button).setOnClickListener(v -> getLogcatReader().ifPresent(logcatReader -> {
             if (logcatReader.isRecording()) {
                 Throwable error = logcatReader.stopRecording();
-                if (error == null) {
-                    Toast.makeText(this, "recording stopped", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
-                    return;
-                }
-                Log.e(TAG, "error during recording", error);
-                new AlertDialog.Builder(this)
-                        .setTitle("Log recording error")
-                        .setMessage("an error happened during the recording:\n\n" + error.getClass().getSimpleName() + ": " + error.getMessage())
-                        .setPositiveButton("close", null)
-                        .show();
+                if (error != null) onRecordingError(error);
                 return;
             }
 
@@ -97,16 +92,15 @@ public class DebugActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
                         File logFile = getFilesDir().toPath().resolve(name).toFile();
                         try {
                             logcatReader.startRecording(logFile);
-                            Toast.makeText(this, "recording started", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
                         } catch (IOException e) {
                             Log.e(TAG, "failed to start recording", e);
+                            onRecordingError(e);
                         }
                     })
                     .setNegativeButton("cancel", null)
                     .setCancelable(false)
                     .show();
-
-        });
+        }));
 
         if (getSupportActionBar() != null)
             getSupportActionBar().setDisplayHomeAsUpEnabled(true);
@@ -116,8 +110,6 @@ public class DebugActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
         autoScrollSwitch.setOnCheckedChangeListener((v, checked) -> autoScroll = checked);
 
         RecyclerView logRecyclerView = findViewById(R.id.log_recycler);
-        LogUiAdapter logUiAdapter = new LogUiAdapter();
-
         logRecyclerView.setLayoutManager(new LinearLayoutManager(this));
         logRecyclerView.setAdapter(logUiAdapter);
         logRecyclerView.setItemAnimator(null);  // does not work with fast-paced logs
@@ -130,8 +122,10 @@ public class DebugActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
             }
         });
 
-        logcatReader = new LogcatReader(logUiAdapter);
-        logcatReader.start();
+        logUiAdapter.onLog(null, "connecting to log service...");
+
+        connector = new GeargrinderServiceConnector(TAG, this, this);
+        connector.bindLogService(BIND_AUTO_CREATE | BIND_IMPORTANT);
 
         if (AUTOSTART_TCP_SERVER)
             startService(new Intent(this, ConnectionService.class)
@@ -141,7 +135,56 @@ public class DebugActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
     @Override
     protected void onDestroy() {
         super.onDestroy();
-        logcatReader.destroy();
+        getLogcatReader().ifPresent(logcatReader -> logcatReader.unregisterUiListener(logUiAdapter));
+        connector.destroy();
+    }
+
+    private Optional<LogcatReader> getLogcatReader() {
+        return connector.getLogBinder()
+                .map(LogService.ServiceBinder::getLogcatReader);
+    }
+
+    public void updateRecordingStatus(boolean recording) {
+        Button toggleRecordingButton = findViewById(R.id.toggle_recording_button);
+        toggleRecordingButton.setText(recording ? "stop recording" : "start recording");
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void onLogServiceConnected(LogService.ServiceBinder binder) {
+        binder.getLogcatReader().registerUiListener(logUiAdapter);
+        binder.getLogcatReader().registerUiListener(this);
+        findViewById(R.id.log_marker_button).setEnabled(true);
+        findViewById(R.id.toggle_recording_button).setEnabled(true);
+        updateRecordingStatus(binder.getLogcatReader().isRecording());
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void onRecordingStart(File file) {
+        runOnUiThread(() -> {
+            updateRecordingStatus(true);
+            Toast.makeText(this, "recording started", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
+        });
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void onRecordingError(Throwable t) {
+        runOnUiThread(() -> {
+            Log.e(TAG, "error during recording", t);
+            new AlertDialog.Builder(this)
+                    .setTitle("Log recording error")
+                    .setMessage("an error happened during the recording:\n\n" + t.getClass().getSimpleName() + ": " + t.getMessage())
+                    .setPositiveButton("close", null)
+                    .setCancelable(false)
+                    .show();
+        });
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void onRecordingStop() {
+        runOnUiThread(() -> {
+            updateRecordingStatus(false);
+            Toast.makeText(this, "recording stopped", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
+        });
     }
 
     @Override
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/io/benwiegand/projection/geargrinder/LogService.java b/app/src/main/java/io/benwiegand/projection/geargrinder/LogService.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..57604bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/src/main/java/io/benwiegand/projection/geargrinder/LogService.java
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+package io.benwiegand.projection.geargrinder;
+
+import android.app.Service;
+import android.content.Intent;
+import android.os.Binder;
+import android.os.IBinder;
+
+import androidx.annotation.Nullable;
+
+import java.io.File;
+
+import io.benwiegand.projection.geargrinder.logs.LogcatReader;
+
+public class LogService extends Service implements LogcatReader.UiLogListener {
+
+    private final LogcatReader logcatReader = new LogcatReader();
+    private final ServiceBinder binder = new ServiceBinder();
+
+    @Override
+    public void onCreate() {
+        super.onCreate();
+        logcatReader.registerUiListener(this);
+        logcatReader.start();
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void onDestroy() {
+        super.onDestroy();
+        logcatReader.unregisterUiListener(this);
+        logcatReader.destroy();
+    }
+
+    @Nullable
+    @Override
+    public IBinder onBind(Intent intent) {
+        return binder;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void onRecordingStart(File file) {
+        startService(new Intent(this, LogService.class));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void onRecordingStop() {
+        stopService(new Intent(this, LogService.class));
+    }
+
+    public class ServiceBinder extends Binder {
+
+        public LogcatReader getLogcatReader() {
+            return logcatReader;
+        }
+
+    }
+
+}
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/io/benwiegand/projection/geargrinder/logs/LogcatReader.java b/app/src/main/java/io/benwiegand/projection/geargrinder/logs/LogcatReader.java
index 6e34de7..71b9a50 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/io/benwiegand/projection/geargrinder/logs/LogcatReader.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/io/benwiegand/projection/geargrinder/logs/LogcatReader.java
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@ import java.io.IOException;
 import java.io.InputStreamReader;
 import java.io.Writer;
 import java.nio.charset.StandardCharsets;
+import java.util.ArrayDeque;
+import java.util.LinkedList;
+import java.util.Queue;
+import java.util.function.Consumer;
 import java.util.regex.Matcher;
 import java.util.regex.Pattern;
 
@@ -19,19 +23,18 @@ public class LogcatReader {
     private static final Pattern LOGCAT_REGEX = Pattern.compile("^(?<date>[0-9]+-[0-9]+) +(?<time>[0-9]+:[0-9]+:[0-9]+.[0-9]+) +(?<pid>[0-9]+) +(?<tid>[0-9]+) +(?<level>[FEWIVD]) +(?<tag>[^:]+): ?(?<msg>.*)$");
 
     public interface UiLogListener {
-        void onLog(String level, String text);
+        default void onLog(String level, String text) {}
+        default void onRecordingStart(File file) {}
+        default void onRecordingStop() {}
+        default void onRecordingError(Throwable t) {}
     }
 
     private final Thread readThread = new Thread(this::readLoop);
     private boolean alive = true;
 
-    private final UiLogListener uiListener;
+    private final Queue<UiLogListener> uiListeners = new ArrayDeque<>();
     private Recording activeRecording = null;
 
-    public LogcatReader(UiLogListener uiListener) {
-        this.uiListener = uiListener;
-    }
-
     public void start() {
         readThread.start();
     }
@@ -41,6 +44,36 @@ public class LogcatReader {
         stopRecording();
     }
 
+    public void registerUiListener(UiLogListener listener) {
+        synchronized (uiListeners) {
+            uiListeners.add(listener);
+        }
+    }
+
+    public void unregisterUiListener(UiLogListener listener) {
+        synchronized (uiListeners) {
+            uiListeners.remove(listener);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void callListeners(Consumer<UiLogListener> consumer) {
+        synchronized (uiListeners) {
+            LinkedList<UiLogListener> deadListeners = new LinkedList<>();
+            for (UiLogListener listener : uiListeners) {
+                try {
+                    consumer.accept(listener);
+                } catch (Throwable t) {
+                    Log.wtf(TAG, "ui listener threw", t);
+                    deadListeners.add(listener);    // avoid spamming the logs exponentially
+                }
+            }
+
+            if (deadListeners.isEmpty()) return;
+            Log.w(TAG, "removing " + deadListeners.size() + " dead listeners");
+            uiListeners.removeAll(deadListeners);
+        }
+    }
+
     private void onLine(String rawText) {
 
         Recording recording = activeRecording;
@@ -65,9 +98,10 @@ public class LogcatReader {
                 tag = String.valueOf(tagBuilder);
             }
 
-            uiListener.onLog(level, time + " " + tag + " " + level + ": " + msg);
+            String text = time + " " + tag + " " + level + ": " + msg;
+            callListeners(l -> l.onLog(level, text));
         } else {
-            uiListener.onLog(null, rawText);
+            callListeners(l -> l.onLog(null, rawText));
         }
 
     }
@@ -117,9 +151,11 @@ public class LogcatReader {
 
     private static class Recording {
         private final Writer writer;
+        private final Consumer<Throwable> onError;
         private Throwable error = null;
-        private Recording(Writer writer) {
+        private Recording(Writer writer, Consumer<Throwable> onError) {
             this.writer = writer;
+            this.onError = onError;
         }
 
         private void onLine(String line) {
@@ -131,6 +167,7 @@ public class LogcatReader {
             } catch (Throwable t) {
                 Log.e(TAG, "failed to write line", t);
                 error = t;
+                onError.accept(t);
             }
         }
 
@@ -139,7 +176,14 @@ public class LogcatReader {
 
     public void startRecording(File file) throws IOException {
         if (activeRecording != null) throw new IllegalStateException("recording already active");
-        activeRecording = new Recording(new FileWriter(file));
+
+        Recording recording = new Recording(
+                new FileWriter(file),
+                t -> callListeners(l -> l.onRecordingError(t))
+        );
+
+        callListeners(l -> l.onRecordingStart(file));
+        activeRecording = recording;
     }
 
     public boolean isRecording() {
@@ -149,7 +193,7 @@ public class LogcatReader {
     public Throwable stopRecording() {
         if (activeRecording == null) return null;
         Throwable error = activeRecording.error;
-        if (error != null) {
+        if (error == null) {
             try {
                 activeRecording.writer.flush();
                 activeRecording.writer.close();
@@ -157,6 +201,7 @@ public class LogcatReader {
                 error = e;
             }
         }
+        callListeners(UiLogListener::onRecordingStop);
         activeRecording = null;
         return error;
     }
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/io/benwiegand/projection/geargrinder/service/GeargrinderServiceConnector.java b/app/src/main/java/io/benwiegand/projection/geargrinder/service/GeargrinderServiceConnector.java
index b2e51f1..c8cb193 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/io/benwiegand/projection/geargrinder/service/GeargrinderServiceConnector.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/io/benwiegand/projection/geargrinder/service/GeargrinderServiceConnector.java
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import java.util.Optional;
 import io.benwiegand.projection.geargrinder.AccessibilityInputService;
 import io.benwiegand.projection.geargrinder.ConnectionService;
 import io.benwiegand.projection.geargrinder.IShizukuUserService;
+import io.benwiegand.projection.geargrinder.LogService;
 import io.benwiegand.projection.geargrinder.NotificationService;
 import io.benwiegand.projection.geargrinder.PackageService;
 import io.benwiegand.projection.geargrinder.PrivdService;
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@ public class GeargrinderServiceConnector extends MakeshiftServiceConnection {
     private static final ComponentName CONNECTION_SERVICE_COMPONENT = new ComponentName(PACKAGE_NAME, ConnectionService.class.getName());
     private static final ComponentName SHIZUKU_USER_SERVICE_COMPONENT = new ComponentName(PACKAGE_NAME, ShizukuUserService.class.getName());
     private static final ComponentName NOTIFICATION_SERVICE_COMPONENT = new ComponentName(PACKAGE_NAME, NotificationService.class.getName());
+    private static final ComponentName LOG_SERVICE_COMPONENT = new ComponentName(PACKAGE_NAME, LogService.class.getName());
 
     private static final Shizuku.UserServiceArgs SHIZUKU_ARGS = new Shizuku.UserServiceArgs(SHIZUKU_USER_SERVICE_COMPONENT)
             .tag("geargrinder-shizuku-service")
@@ -53,6 +55,7 @@ public class GeargrinderServiceConnector extends MakeshiftServiceConnection {
         default void onConnectionServiceConnected(ConnectionService.ServiceBinder binder) {}
         default void onShizukuUserServiceConnected(IShizukuUserService service) {}
         default void onNotificationServiceConnected(NotificationService.ServiceBinder binder) {}
+        default void onLogServiceConnected(LogService.ServiceBinder binder) {}
     }
 
     public GeargrinderServiceConnector(String tag, Context context, ConnectionListener listener) {
@@ -147,6 +150,15 @@ public class GeargrinderServiceConnector extends MakeshiftServiceConnection {
                 .map(b -> (NotificationService.ServiceBinder) b);
     }
 
+    public void bindLogService(int flags) {
+        realBind(LOG_SERVICE_COMPONENT, flags);
+    }
+
+    public Optional<LogService.ServiceBinder> getLogBinder() {
+        return getBinder(LOG_SERVICE_COMPONENT)
+                .map(b -> (LogService.ServiceBinder) b);
+    }
+
 
     @Override
     public void onServiceConnected(ComponentName name, IBinder service) {
@@ -166,6 +178,8 @@ public class GeargrinderServiceConnector extends MakeshiftServiceConnection {
             listener.onShizukuUserServiceConnected(IShizukuUserService.Stub.asInterface(service));
         } else if (name.equals(NOTIFICATION_SERVICE_COMPONENT)) {
             listener.onNotificationServiceConnected((NotificationService.ServiceBinder) service);
+        } else if (name.equals(LOG_SERVICE_COMPONENT)) {
+            listener.onLogServiceConnected((LogService.ServiceBinder) service);
         } else {
             Log.wtf(tag, "unhandled component: " + name);
             assert false;
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/layout/activity_debug.xml b/app/src/main/res/layout/activity_debug.xml
index 5707b60..28aa3e4 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/layout/activity_debug.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/layout/activity_debug.xml
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
             android:layout_width="match_parent"
             android:layout_height="match_parent"
             android:layout_weight="1"
+            android:enabled="false"
             android:text="log marker"
             />
 
@@ -32,7 +33,8 @@
             android:layout_width="match_parent"
             android:layout_height="match_parent"
             android:layout_weight="1"
-            android:text="log recording"
+            android:enabled="false"
+            android:text="start recording"
             />
 
         <androidx.appcompat.widget.SwitchCompat