diff --git a/services/core/java/com/android/server/am/ActivityManagerService.java b/services/core/java/com/android/server/am/ActivityManagerService.java
index 2b89fdfba11af..0c0320c97eeb9 100644
--- a/services/core/java/com/android/server/am/ActivityManagerService.java
+++ b/services/core/java/com/android/server/am/ActivityManagerService.java
@@ -18342,7 +18342,7 @@ public final class ActivityManagerService extends ActivityManagerNative
                                    && config.navigation == Configuration.NAVIGATION_NONAV);
         int modeType = config.uiMode & Configuration.UI_MODE_TYPE_MASK;
         final boolean uiModeSupportsDialogs = (modeType != Configuration.UI_MODE_TYPE_CAR
-                && modeType != Configuration.UI_MODE_TYPE_WATCH);
+                && (modeType != Configuration.UI_MODE_TYPE_WATCH || "eng".equals(Build.TYPE)));
         return inputMethodExists && uiModeSupportsDialogs && !inVrMode;
     }