diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recent/RecentsActivity.java b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recent/RecentsActivity.java
index 140cc8050b6ed..79069b89c42a8 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recent/RecentsActivity.java
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recent/RecentsActivity.java
@@ -205,4 +205,8 @@ public class RecentsActivity extends Activity {
     boolean isForeground() {
         return mForeground;
     }
+
+    boolean isActivityShowing() {
+         return mShowing;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recent/RecentsPanelView.java b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recent/RecentsPanelView.java
index ff519960cac8b..8607508b9bce7 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recent/RecentsPanelView.java
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recent/RecentsPanelView.java
@@ -579,7 +579,7 @@ public class RecentsPanelView extends FrameLayout implements OnItemClickListener
         } else {
             mRecentTaskDescriptions.addAll(tasks);
         }
-        if (((RecentsActivity)mContext).isForeground()) {
+        if (((RecentsActivity) mContext).isActivityShowing()) {
             refreshViews();
         }
     }