diff --git a/gma/integration_test/src/integration_test.cc b/gma/integration_test/src/integration_test.cc
index 2a48d0066f..d44b0c869a 100644
--- a/gma/integration_test/src/integration_test.cc
+++ b/gma/integration_test/src/integration_test.cc
@@ -173,6 +173,12 @@ class FirebaseGmaUITest : public FirebaseGmaTest {
   void SetUp() override;
 };
 
+class FirebaseGmaMinimalTest : public FirebaseTest {
+ public:
+  FirebaseGmaMinimalTest();
+  ~FirebaseGmaMinimalTest() override;
+};
+
 // Runs GMA Tests on methods and functions that should be run
 // before GMA initializes.
 class FirebaseGmaPreInitializationTests : public FirebaseGmaTest {
@@ -228,11 +234,11 @@ void FirebaseGmaTest::SetUpTestSuite() {
 }
 
 void FirebaseGmaTest::TearDownTestSuite() {
-  // Workaround: GMA does some of its initialization in the main
-  // thread, so if you terminate it too quickly after initialization
-  // it can cause issues.  Add a small delay here in case most of the
-  // tests are skipped.
-  ProcessEvents(1000);
+  // GMA does some of its initialization in the main thread, so if you terminate
+  // it before initialization has completed, it can cause issues. So wait for
+  // any pending GMA initialization to be completed before calling terminate.
+  WaitForCompletion(firebase::gma::InitializeLastResult(),
+                    "gma::InitializeLastResult");
   LogDebug("Shutdown GMA.");
   firebase::gma::Terminate();
   LogDebug("Shutdown Firebase App.");
@@ -301,6 +307,10 @@ firebase::Variant FirebaseGmaTest::GetVariantMap() {
   return variant_map;
 }
 
+FirebaseGmaMinimalTest::FirebaseGmaMinimalTest() {}
+
+FirebaseGmaMinimalTest::~FirebaseGmaMinimalTest() {}
+
 FirebaseGmaUITest::FirebaseGmaUITest() {}
 
 FirebaseGmaUITest::~FirebaseGmaUITest() {}
@@ -340,6 +350,26 @@ void FirebaseGmaPreInitializationTests::SetUpTestSuite() {
 
 // Test cases below.
 
+TEST_F(FirebaseGmaMinimalTest, TestInitializeGmaWithoutFirebase) {
+  // Don't initialize mediation in this test so that a later test can still
+  // verify that mediation has not been initialized.
+  firebase::gma::DisableMediationInitialization();
+  LogDebug("Initializing GMA without a Firebase App.");
+  firebase::InitResult result;
+#if defined(ANDROID)
+  ::firebase::gma::Initialize(app_framework::GetJniEnv(),
+                              app_framework::GetActivity(), &result);
+#else   // !defined(ANDROID)
+  ::firebase::gma::Initialize(&result);
+#endif  // defined(ANDROID)
+  EXPECT_EQ(result, ::firebase::kInitResultSuccess);
+  WaitForCompletion(firebase::gma::InitializeLastResult(), "gma::Initialize");
+  LogDebug("Successfully initialized GMA.");
+
+  LogDebug("Shutdown GMA.");
+  firebase::gma::Terminate();
+}
+
 TEST_F(FirebaseGmaPreInitializationTests, TestDisableMediationInitialization) {
   // Note: This test should be disabled or put in an entirely different test
   // binrary if we ever wish to test mediation in this application.
diff --git a/gma/src/android/gma_android.cc b/gma/src/android/gma_android.cc
index a1459e20b8..bcc7e35949 100644
--- a/gma/src/android/gma_android.cc
+++ b/gma/src/android/gma_android.cc
@@ -285,11 +285,7 @@ Future<AdapterInitializationStatus> Initialize(JNIEnv* env, jobject activity,
     env->GetJavaVM(&g_java_vm);
   }
 
-  // GMA requires Google Play services if the class
-  // "com.google.android.gms.ads.internal.ClientApi" does not exist.
-  if (!util::FindClass(env, "com/google/android/gms/ads/internal/ClientApi") &&
-      google_play_services::CheckAvailability(env, activity) !=
-          google_play_services::kAvailabilityAvailable) {
+  if (!util::Initialize(env, activity)) {
     if (init_result_out) {
       *init_result_out = kInitResultFailedMissingDependency;
     }
@@ -298,7 +294,12 @@ Future<AdapterInitializationStatus> Initialize(JNIEnv* env, jobject activity,
     return Future<AdapterInitializationStatus>();
   }
 
-  if (!util::Initialize(env, activity)) {
+  // GMA requires Google Play services if the class
+  // "com.google.android.gms.ads.internal.ClientApi" does not exist.
+  if (!util::FindClass(env, "com/google/android/gms/ads/internal/ClientApi") &&
+      google_play_services::CheckAvailability(env, activity) !=
+          google_play_services::kAvailabilityAvailable) {
+    util::Terminate(env);
     if (init_result_out) {
       *init_result_out = kInitResultFailedMissingDependency;
     }
diff --git a/release_build_files/readme.md b/release_build_files/readme.md
index e1ff9696b8..24f7ac2017 100644
--- a/release_build_files/readme.md
+++ b/release_build_files/readme.md
@@ -627,6 +627,10 @@ workflow use only during the development of your app, not for publicly shipping
 code.
 
 ## Release Notes
+### Upcoming Release
+-   Changes
+    - GMA (Android): Fixed a crash when initializing GMA without a Firebase App.
+
 ### 11.3.0
 -   Changes
     - General (Android): Update to Firebase Android BoM version 32.2.0.