diff --git a/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/android/android_device.dart b/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/android/android_device.dart
index 2b8feb77eb0..4b475371861 100644
--- a/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/android/android_device.dart
+++ b/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/android/android_device.dart
@@ -625,7 +625,8 @@ class AndroidDevice extends Device {
     final String? traceSkiaAllowlist = debuggingOptions.traceSkiaAllowlist;
     final List<String> cmd = <String>[
       'shell', 'am', 'start',
-      '-a', 'android.intent.action.RUN',
+      '-a', 'android.intent.action.MAIN',
+      '-c', 'android.intent.category.LAUNCHER',
       '-f', '0x20000000', // FLAG_ACTIVITY_SINGLE_TOP
       '--ez', 'enable-dart-profiling', 'true',
       if (traceStartup)
diff --git a/packages/flutter_tools/test/general.shard/android/android_device_start_test.dart b/packages/flutter_tools/test/general.shard/android/android_device_start_test.dart
index fb32f3a1d95..94eb347eee8 100644
--- a/packages/flutter_tools/test/general.shard/android/android_device_start_test.dart
+++ b/packages/flutter_tools/test/general.shard/android/android_device_start_test.dart
@@ -100,7 +100,9 @@ void main() {
           'am',
           'start',
           '-a',
-          'android.intent.action.RUN',
+          'android.intent.action.MAIN',
+          '-c',
+          'android.intent.category.LAUNCHER',
           '-f',
           '0x20000000',
           '--ez', 'enable-dart-profiling', 'true',
@@ -226,7 +228,9 @@ void main() {
         'am',
         'start',
         '-a',
-        'android.intent.action.RUN',
+        'android.intent.action.MAIN',
+        '-c',
+        'android.intent.category.LAUNCHER',
         '-f',
         '0x20000000',
         // The DebuggingOptions arguments go here.