diff --git a/.circleci/config.yml b/.circleci/config.yml
index 9c012a2..a8864e3 100644
--- a/.circleci/config.yml
+++ b/.circleci/config.yml
@@ -37,17 +37,21 @@ jobs:
       # The next step will run the unit tests
       - android/run-tests:
           test-command: ./gradlew testDriverDebugUnitTest --continue
-      # Then start the firebase emulators for the Instrumentation tests!
+      # Install Firebase tools needed for firebase emulator
       - run:
-          name: Setup Firebase Emulators
+          name: Install firebase tools
           command: |
             curl -sL firebase.tools | bash
+      # Then start firebase emulator in the background
+      - run:
+          name: Start firebase emulator
+          command: |
             firebase emulators:start
+          background: true
       # Then start the emulator and run the Instrumentation tests!
       - android/start-emulator-and-run-tests:
           test-command: ./gradlew connectedDebugAndroidTest
           system-image: system-images;android-25;google_apis;x86
-
       # And finally run the release build
 #      - run:
 #          name: Assemble release build