In order to reduce latency associated with an application executed by an electronic device, when the application transitions from a runnable mode to a suspended state, the electronic device may receive a request from the application to maintain a connection, which is used by the application to communicate with another electronic device, while the application is in the suspended state. Then, the electronic device may provide an instruction to an interface circuit in the electronic device to maintain the connection for a time interval while the application is in the suspended state. This time interval may exceed a predefined timeout for the connection and/or a task extension time for the application. Moreover, prior to providing the instruction, the electronic device may confirm one or more system safeguards to prevent abuse and to ensure system performance and battery life is not adversely affected by maintaining the connection.