diff --git a/core/java/android/widget/AbsListView.java b/core/java/android/widget/AbsListView.java
index 61c942d15e3b6..423135f33f971 100644
--- a/core/java/android/widget/AbsListView.java
+++ b/core/java/android/widget/AbsListView.java
@@ -973,6 +973,12 @@ public abstract class AbsListView extends AdapterView<ListAdapter> implements Te
 
         // Start selection mode if needed. We don't need to if we're unchecking something.
         if (value && mChoiceMode == CHOICE_MODE_MULTIPLE_MODAL && mChoiceActionMode == null) {
+            if (mMultiChoiceModeCallback == null ||
+                    !mMultiChoiceModeCallback.hasWrappedCallback()) {
+                throw new IllegalStateException("AbsListView: attempted to start selection mode " +
+                        "for CHOICE_MODE_MULTIPLE_MODAL but no choice mode callback was " +
+                        "supplied. Call setMultiChoiceModeListener to set a callback.");
+            }
             mChoiceActionMode = startActionMode(mMultiChoiceModeCallback);
         }
 
@@ -5945,6 +5951,10 @@ public abstract class AbsListView extends AdapterView<ListAdapter> implements Te
             mWrapped = wrapped;
         }
 
+        public boolean hasWrappedCallback() {
+            return mWrapped != null;
+        }
+
         public boolean onCreateActionMode(ActionMode mode, Menu menu) {
             if (mWrapped.onCreateActionMode(mode, menu)) {
                 // Initialize checked graphic state?