diff --git a/build-tools/automation/azure-pipelines.yaml b/build-tools/automation/azure-pipelines.yaml
index 979f6e1b52e..9c772956a3b 100644
--- a/build-tools/automation/azure-pipelines.yaml
+++ b/build-tools/automation/azure-pipelines.yaml
@@ -379,7 +379,7 @@ stages:
         testName: Mono.Android_Tests-Aot
         project: tests/Mono.Android-Tests/Mono.Android-Tests.csproj
         testResultsFiles: TestResult-Mono.Android_Tests-$(ApkTestConfiguration)-Aot.xml
-        extraBuildArgs: /p:AotAssemblies=True /p:EnableLlvm=True
+        extraBuildArgs: /p:AotAssemblies=True /p:EnableLLVM=True
         artifactSource: bin/Test$(ApkTestConfiguration)/Mono.Android_Tests-Signed.apk
         artifactFolder: AotLlvm
 
@@ -691,13 +691,15 @@ stages:
 
     - template: yaml-templates/apk-instrumentation.yaml
       parameters:
-        # TODO: disable LLVM test, see: https://github.com/dotnet/runtime/issues/68914
+        # TODO: disable LLVM test, see:
+        # https://github.com/dotnet/runtime/issues/68914
+        # https://github.com/dotnet/runtime/issues/73304
         condition: false
         configuration: $(XA.Build.Configuration)
         testName: Mono.Android.NET_Tests-AotLlvm
         project: tests/Mono.Android-Tests/Runtime-Microsoft.Android.Sdk/Mono.Android.NET-Tests.csproj
         testResultsFiles: TestResult-Mono.Android.NET_Tests-$(XA.Build.Configuration)AotLlvm.xml
-        extraBuildArgs: -p:TestsFlavor=AotLlvm -p:EnableLlvm=true
+        extraBuildArgs: -p:TestsFlavor=AotLlvm -p:EnableLLVM=true -p:AndroidEnableProfiledAot=false
         artifactSource: bin/Test$(XA.Build.Configuration)/$(DotNetTargetFramework)-android/Mono.Android.NET_Tests-Signed.aab
         artifactFolder: $(DotNetTargetFramework)-AotLlvm
         useDotNet: true
diff --git a/src/Mono.Android/Android.Runtime/JNIEnv.cs b/src/Mono.Android/Android.Runtime/JNIEnv.cs
index 36c2e476340..3d1a5cde5e1 100644
--- a/src/Mono.Android/Android.Runtime/JNIEnv.cs
+++ b/src/Mono.Android/Android.Runtime/JNIEnv.cs
@@ -198,10 +198,17 @@ internal static unsafe void Initialize (JnienvInitializeArgs* args)
 			}
 
 #if !MONOANDROID1_0
-			SynchronizationContext.SetSynchronizationContext (Android.App.Application.SynchronizationContext);
+			SetSynchronizationContext ();
 #endif
 		}
 
+#if !MONOANDROID1_0
+		// NOTE: prevents Android.App.Application static ctor from running
+		[MethodImpl (MethodImplOptions.NoInlining)]
+		static void SetSynchronizationContext () =>
+			SynchronizationContext.SetSynchronizationContext (Android.App.Application.SynchronizationContext);
+#endif
+
 		internal static void Exit ()
 		{
 			/* Manually dispose surfaced objects and close the current JniEnvironment to
diff --git a/tests/Mono.Android-Tests/Runtime-Microsoft.Android.Sdk/Mono.Android.NET-Tests.csproj b/tests/Mono.Android-Tests/Runtime-Microsoft.Android.Sdk/Mono.Android.NET-Tests.csproj
index 22d9dce4925..2460510dca5 100644
--- a/tests/Mono.Android-Tests/Runtime-Microsoft.Android.Sdk/Mono.Android.NET-Tests.csproj
+++ b/tests/Mono.Android-Tests/Runtime-Microsoft.Android.Sdk/Mono.Android.NET-Tests.csproj
@@ -21,10 +21,10 @@
     <WarningsAsErrors>IL2037</WarningsAsErrors>
     <!--
       TODO: Fix excluded tests
-      For AOT, InetAccess excluded due to: https://github.com/dotnet/runtime/issues/56315
+      For $(EnableLLVM), InetAccess excluded due to: https://github.com/dotnet/runtime/issues/56315
     -->
     <ExcludeCategories>DotNetIgnore</ExcludeCategories>
-    <ExcludeCategories Condition=" '$(RunAOTCompilation)' == 'true' ">$(ExcludeCategories):InetAccess</ExcludeCategories>
+    <ExcludeCategories Condition=" '$(EnableLLVM)' == 'true' ">$(ExcludeCategories):InetAccess</ExcludeCategories>
     <ExcludeCategories Condition=" '$(UseInterpreter)' == 'true' ">$(ExcludeCategories):IgnoreInterpreter</ExcludeCategories>
   </PropertyGroup>