diff --git a/quickstep/recents_ui_overrides/src/com/android/quickstep/LauncherActivityControllerHelper.java b/quickstep/recents_ui_overrides/src/com/android/quickstep/LauncherActivityControllerHelper.java
index 408b749a6e..9650a5316a 100644
--- a/quickstep/recents_ui_overrides/src/com/android/quickstep/LauncherActivityControllerHelper.java
+++ b/quickstep/recents_ui_overrides/src/com/android/quickstep/LauncherActivityControllerHelper.java
@@ -100,10 +100,14 @@ public final class LauncherActivityControllerHelper implements ActivityControlHe
     public HomeAnimationFactory prepareHomeUI(Launcher activity) {
         final DeviceProfile dp = activity.getDeviceProfile();
         final RecentsView recentsView = activity.getOverviewPanel();
-        final ComponentName component = recentsView.getRunningTaskView().getTask().key
-                .sourceComponent;
-
-        final View workspaceView = activity.getWorkspace().getFirstMatchForAppClose(component);
+        final TaskView runningTaskView = recentsView.getRunningTaskView();
+        final View workspaceView;
+        if (runningTaskView != null) {
+            ComponentName component = runningTaskView.getTask().key.sourceComponent;
+            workspaceView = activity.getWorkspace().getFirstMatchForAppClose(component);
+        } else {
+            workspaceView = null;
+        }
         final Rect iconLocation = new Rect();
         final FloatingIconView floatingView = workspaceView == null ? null
                 : FloatingIconView.getFloatingIconView(activity, workspaceView,
diff --git a/quickstep/recents_ui_overrides/src/com/android/quickstep/views/RecentsView.java b/quickstep/recents_ui_overrides/src/com/android/quickstep/views/RecentsView.java
index a7bf2c3ee4..3e0e8ae583 100644
--- a/quickstep/recents_ui_overrides/src/com/android/quickstep/views/RecentsView.java
+++ b/quickstep/recents_ui_overrides/src/com/android/quickstep/views/RecentsView.java
@@ -773,7 +773,7 @@ public abstract class RecentsView<T extends BaseActivity> extends PagedView impl
         setCurrentTask(runningTaskId);
     }
 
-    public TaskView getRunningTaskView() {
+    public @Nullable TaskView getRunningTaskView() {
         return getTaskView(mRunningTaskId);
     }