diff --git a/core/java/com/android/internal/os/BatteryStatsImpl.java b/core/java/com/android/internal/os/BatteryStatsImpl.java
index 9dca5ea6eaa6f..12d96e2d486f7 100644
--- a/core/java/com/android/internal/os/BatteryStatsImpl.java
+++ b/core/java/com/android/internal/os/BatteryStatsImpl.java
@@ -7914,12 +7914,11 @@ public class BatteryStatsImpl extends BatteryStats {
         }
 
         public void noteStartSensor(int sensor, long elapsedRealtimeMs) {
-            StopwatchTimer t = getSensorTimerLocked(sensor, true);
-            if (t != null) {
-                t.startRunningLocked(elapsedRealtimeMs);
-            }
-            Counter c = getSensorBgCounterLocked(sensor, true);
-            if (c != null && mProcessState >= PROCESS_STATE_BACKGROUND) {
+            StopwatchTimer t = getSensorTimerLocked(sensor, /* create= */ true);
+            t.startRunningLocked(elapsedRealtimeMs);
+
+            Counter c = getSensorBgCounterLocked(sensor, /* create= */ true);
+            if (mProcessState >= PROCESS_STATE_BACKGROUND && t.mNesting == 1) {
                 c.stepAtomic();
             }
         }
@@ -7933,17 +7932,17 @@ public class BatteryStatsImpl extends BatteryStats {
         }
 
         public void noteStartGps(long elapsedRealtimeMs) {
-            StopwatchTimer t = getSensorTimerLocked(Sensor.GPS, true);
-            if (t != null) {
-                t.startRunningLocked(elapsedRealtimeMs);
-            }
-            Counter c = getSensorBgCounterLocked(Sensor.GPS, true);
-            if (c != null && mProcessState >= PROCESS_STATE_BACKGROUND) {
+            StopwatchTimer t = getSensorTimerLocked(Sensor.GPS, /* create= */ true);
+            t.startRunningLocked(elapsedRealtimeMs);
+
+            Counter c = getSensorBgCounterLocked(Sensor.GPS, /* create= */ true);
+            if (mProcessState >= PROCESS_STATE_BACKGROUND && t.mNesting == 1) {
                 c.stepAtomic();
             }
         }
 
         public void noteStopGps(long elapsedRealtimeMs) {
+            // Don't create a timer if one doesn't already exist
             StopwatchTimer t = getSensorTimerLocked(Sensor.GPS, false);
             if (t != null) {
                 t.stopRunningLocked(elapsedRealtimeMs);
diff --git a/core/tests/coretests/src/com/android/internal/os/BatteryStatsSensorTest.java b/core/tests/coretests/src/com/android/internal/os/BatteryStatsSensorTest.java
index 0bdf7caa8903f..e15216384ec14 100644
--- a/core/tests/coretests/src/com/android/internal/os/BatteryStatsSensorTest.java
+++ b/core/tests/coretests/src/com/android/internal/os/BatteryStatsSensorTest.java
@@ -48,9 +48,11 @@ public class BatteryStatsSensorTest extends TestCase {
 
         bi.noteUidProcessStateLocked(UID, ActivityManager.PROCESS_STATE_RECEIVER);
         bi.noteStartSensorLocked(UID, SENSOR_ID);
+        bi.noteStartSensorLocked(UID, SENSOR_ID);
         clocks.realtime = 400;
         clocks.uptime = 400;
         bi.noteStopSensorLocked(UID, SENSOR_ID);
+        bi.noteStopSensorLocked(UID, SENSOR_ID);
 
         BatteryStats.Timer sensorTimer = bi.getUidStats().get(UID).getSensorStats()
                 .get(SENSOR_ID).getSensorTime();