diff --git a/src/main_loop.cpp b/src/main_loop.cpp
index 53d781108..d91981b94 100644
--- a/src/main_loop.cpp
+++ b/src/main_loop.cpp
@@ -137,6 +137,7 @@ float MainLoop::getLimitedDt()
                 PlayerManager::get()->save();
                 if (addons_manager->hasDownloadedIcons())
                     addons_manager->saveInstalled();
+                Online::RequestManager::get()->setPaused(true);
             }
             dev->run();
             win_active = dev->isWindowActive();
@@ -151,6 +152,7 @@ float MainLoop::getLimitedDt()
                 // back to phone, because the smooth timer is paused
                 if (World::getWorld() && RewindManager::isEnabled())
                     RewindManager::get()->resetSmoothNetworkBody();
+                Online::RequestManager::get()->setPaused(false);
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/online/http_request.cpp b/src/online/http_request.cpp
index 42becf2cc..302e3ab06 100644
--- a/src/online/http_request.cpp
+++ b/src/online/http_request.cpp
@@ -360,7 +360,8 @@ namespace Online
         // Check if we are asked to abort the download. If so, signal this
         // back to libcurl by returning a non-zero status.
         if (RequestManager::isRunning() &&
-            (RequestManager::get()->getAbort() || request->isCancelled()) &&
+            (RequestManager::get()->getAbort() || RequestManager::get()->getPaused() ||
+             request->isCancelled()) &&
              request->isAbortable()                                     )
         {
             // Indicates to abort the current download, which means that this
diff --git a/src/online/request_manager.cpp b/src/online/request_manager.cpp
index dd594366c..63bdb1097 100644
--- a/src/online/request_manager.cpp
+++ b/src/online/request_manager.cpp
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ namespace Online
      */
     RequestManager::RequestManager()
     {
+        m_paused.store(false);
         m_menu_polling_interval = 60;  // Default polling: every 60 seconds.
         m_game_polling_interval = 60;  // same for game polling
         m_time_since_poll       = m_menu_polling_interval;
@@ -210,6 +211,10 @@ namespace Online
                 pthread_cond_wait(&me->m_cond_request, me->m_request_queue.getMutex());
                 empty = me->m_request_queue.getData().empty();
             }
+            // We pause the request manager thread when going into background in iOS
+            // So this will only be evaluated a while
+            if (me->m_paused.load())
+                StkTime::sleep(1);
             me->m_current_request = me->m_request_queue.getData().top();
             me->m_request_queue.getData().pop();
 
diff --git a/src/online/request_manager.hpp b/src/online/request_manager.hpp
index 2e993d99d..1774020fa 100644
--- a/src/online/request_manager.hpp
+++ b/src/online/request_manager.hpp
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 #  include <winsock2.h>
 #endif
 
+#include <atomic>
 #include <curl/curl.h>
 #include <memory>
 #include <queue>
@@ -103,6 +104,9 @@ namespace Online
             /** Signal an abort in case that a download is still happening. */
             Synchronised<bool>        m_abort;
 
+            /** Signal an pause before STK goes into background in iOS. */
+            std::atomic_bool m_paused;
+
             /** The polling interval while a game is running. */
             float m_game_polling_interval;
 
@@ -160,6 +164,8 @@ namespace Online
             void stopNetworkThread();
 
             bool getAbort() { return m_abort.getAtomic(); }
+            bool getPaused() { return m_paused.load(); }
+            void setPaused(bool val) { m_paused.store(val); }
             void update(float dt);
 
             // ----------------------------------------------------------------