diff --git a/java/com/android/dialer/precall/PreCallAction.java b/java/com/android/dialer/precall/PreCallAction.java
index 9434694..9ddc6f2 100644
--- a/java/com/android/dialer/precall/PreCallAction.java
+++ b/java/com/android/dialer/precall/PreCallAction.java
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 package com.android.dialer.precall;
 
+import android.content.Context;
 import android.support.annotation.MainThread;
 import com.android.dialer.callintent.CallIntentBuilder;
 
@@ -28,12 +29,29 @@
 public interface PreCallAction {
 
   /**
+   * Whether the action requires an activity to operate. This method is called on all actions before
+   * {@link #runWithUi(PreCallCoordinator)} is called. If {@link true} is returned, {@link
+   * #runWithUi(PreCallCoordinator)} will be guaranteed to be called on the execution phase.
+   * Otherwise {@link #runWithoutUi(Context, CallIntentBuilder)} may be called instead and the
+   * action will not be able to show UI, perform async task, or abort the call. This method should
+   * not make any state changes.
+   */
+  @MainThread
+  boolean requiresUi(Context context, CallIntentBuilder builder);
+
+  /**
+   * Called when all actions returned {@code false} for {@link #requiresUi(Context,
+   * CallIntentBuilder)}.
+   */
+  void runWithoutUi(Context context, CallIntentBuilder builder);
+
+  /**
    * Runs the action. Should block on the main thread until the action is finished. If the action is
    * not instantaneous, {@link PreCallCoordinator#startPendingAction()} should be called to release
    * the thread and continue later.
    */
   @MainThread
-  void run(PreCallCoordinator coordinator);
+  void runWithUi(PreCallCoordinator coordinator);
 
   /**
    * Called when the UI is being paused when a {@link PreCallCoordinator.PendingAction} is started,
diff --git a/java/com/android/dialer/precall/PreCallCoordinator.java b/java/com/android/dialer/precall/PreCallCoordinator.java
index 40b909a..cb3221a 100644
--- a/java/com/android/dialer/precall/PreCallCoordinator.java
+++ b/java/com/android/dialer/precall/PreCallCoordinator.java
@@ -33,10 +33,7 @@
   @NonNull
   CallIntentBuilder getBuilder();
 
-  /**
-   * @return the activity to attach the UI to. Returns {@link null} if the coordinator is running on
-   *     headless mode. TODO(twyen): implement headless mode.
-   */
+  /** @return the activity to attach the UI to. */
   @NonNull
   Activity getActivity();
 
@@ -60,10 +57,10 @@
    * Called by the current running {@link PreCallAction} to release the main thread and resume
    * pre-call later.
    *
-   * @return a {@link PendingAction} which {@link PendingAction#finish(boolean)} should be called to
-   *     resume pre-call. For example the action shows a dialog to the user, startPendingAction()
-   *     should be called as the action will not be finished immediately. When the dialog is
-   *     completed, {@code finish()} is then called to continue the next step.
+   * @return a {@link PendingAction} which {@link PendingAction#finish()} should be called to resume
+   *     pre-call. For example the action shows a dialog to the user, startPendingAction() should be
+   *     called as the action will not be finished immediately. When the dialog is completed, {@code
+   *     finish()} is then called to continue the next step.
    */
   @MainThread
   @NonNull
diff --git a/java/com/android/dialer/precall/impl/AssistedDialAction.java b/java/com/android/dialer/precall/impl/AssistedDialAction.java
index edf97cc..c4f61d2 100644
--- a/java/com/android/dialer/precall/impl/AssistedDialAction.java
+++ b/java/com/android/dialer/precall/impl/AssistedDialAction.java
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 package com.android.dialer.precall.impl;
 
 import android.annotation.TargetApi;
+import android.content.Context;
 import android.os.Build;
 import android.os.Bundle;
 import android.telecom.PhoneAccount;
@@ -35,18 +36,21 @@
 /** Rewrites the call URI with country code. TODO(erfanian): use phone account for multi SIM */
 public class AssistedDialAction implements PreCallAction {
 
+  @Override
+  public boolean requiresUi(Context context, CallIntentBuilder builder) {
+    return false;
+  }
+
   @SuppressWarnings("AndroidApiChecker") // Use of optional
   @TargetApi(Build.VERSION_CODES.N)
   @Override
-  public void run(PreCallCoordinator coordinator) {
-    CallIntentBuilder builder = coordinator.getBuilder();
+  public void runWithoutUi(Context context, CallIntentBuilder builder) {
     if (!builder.isAssistedDialAllowed()) {
       return;
     }
     AssistedDialingMediator assistedDialingMediator =
         ConcreteCreator.createNewAssistedDialingMediator(
-            coordinator.getActivity().getSystemService(TelephonyManager.class),
-            coordinator.getActivity());
+            context.getSystemService(TelephonyManager.class), context);
     if (!assistedDialingMediator.isPlatformEligible()) {
       return;
     }
@@ -69,5 +73,10 @@
   }
 
   @Override
+  public void runWithUi(PreCallCoordinator coordinator) {
+    runWithoutUi(coordinator.getActivity(), coordinator.getBuilder());
+  }
+
+  @Override
   public void onDiscard() {}
 }
diff --git a/java/com/android/dialer/precall/impl/CallingAccountSelector.java b/java/com/android/dialer/precall/impl/CallingAccountSelector.java
index ca74bef..d763c7a 100644
--- a/java/com/android/dialer/precall/impl/CallingAccountSelector.java
+++ b/java/com/android/dialer/precall/impl/CallingAccountSelector.java
@@ -59,16 +59,27 @@
   private boolean isDiscarding;
 
   @Override
-  @MainThread
-  public void run(PreCallCoordinator coordinator) {
-    CallIntentBuilder builder = coordinator.getBuilder();
+  public boolean requiresUi(Context context, CallIntentBuilder builder) {
     if (builder.getPhoneAccountHandle() != null) {
-      return;
+      return false;
     }
-    Activity activity = coordinator.getActivity();
-    TelecomManager telecomManager = activity.getSystemService(TelecomManager.class);
+    TelecomManager telecomManager = context.getSystemService(TelecomManager.class);
     List<PhoneAccountHandle> accounts = telecomManager.getCallCapablePhoneAccounts();
     if (accounts.size() <= 1) {
+      return false;
+    }
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  @Override
+  public void runWithoutUi(Context context, CallIntentBuilder builder) {
+    // do nothing.
+  }
+
+  @Override
+  public void runWithUi(PreCallCoordinator coordinator) {
+    CallIntentBuilder builder = coordinator.getBuilder();
+    if (!requiresUi(coordinator.getActivity(), builder)) {
       return;
     }
     switch (builder.getUri().getScheme()) {
diff --git a/java/com/android/dialer/precall/impl/PreCallCoordinatorImpl.java b/java/com/android/dialer/precall/impl/PreCallCoordinatorImpl.java
index 6302a23..485823e 100644
--- a/java/com/android/dialer/precall/impl/PreCallCoordinatorImpl.java
+++ b/java/com/android/dialer/precall/impl/PreCallCoordinatorImpl.java
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@
     }
     LogUtil.i("PreCallCoordinatorImpl.runNextAction", "running " + actions.get(currentActionIndex));
     currentAction = actions.get(currentActionIndex);
-    actions.get(currentActionIndex).run(this);
+    actions.get(currentActionIndex).runWithUi(this);
     if (pendingAction == null) {
       onActionFinished();
     }
diff --git a/java/com/android/dialer/precall/impl/PreCallImpl.java b/java/com/android/dialer/precall/impl/PreCallImpl.java
index 21c5dc9..1c78bb8 100644
--- a/java/com/android/dialer/precall/impl/PreCallImpl.java
+++ b/java/com/android/dialer/precall/impl/PreCallImpl.java
@@ -20,8 +20,10 @@
 import android.content.Intent;
 import android.support.annotation.NonNull;
 import com.android.dialer.callintent.CallIntentBuilder;
+import com.android.dialer.common.LogUtil;
 import com.android.dialer.precall.PreCall;
 import com.android.dialer.precall.PreCallAction;
+import com.android.dialer.precall.PreCallComponent;
 import com.android.dialer.precall.PreCallCoordinator;
 import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableList;
 import javax.inject.Inject;
@@ -40,8 +42,26 @@
   @NonNull
   @Override
   public Intent buildIntent(Context context, CallIntentBuilder builder) {
+    if (!requiresUi(context, builder)) {
+      LogUtil.i("PreCallImpl.buildIntent", "No UI requested, running pre-call directly");
+      for (PreCallAction action : PreCallComponent.get(context).getPreCall().getActions()) {
+        action.runWithoutUi(context, builder);
+      }
+      return builder.build();
+    }
+    LogUtil.i("PreCallImpl.buildIntent", "building intent to start activity");
     Intent intent = new Intent(context, PreCallActivity.class);
     intent.putExtra(PreCallCoordinator.EXTRA_CALL_INTENT_BUILDER, builder);
     return intent;
   }
+
+  private boolean requiresUi(Context context, CallIntentBuilder builder) {
+    for (PreCallAction action : PreCallComponent.get(context).getPreCall().getActions()) {
+      if (action.requiresUi(context, builder)) {
+        LogUtil.i("PreCallImpl.requiresUi", action + " requested UI");
+        return true;
+      }
+    }
+    return false;
+  }
 }