diff --git a/libs/WindowManager/Shell/src/com/android/wm/shell/splitscreen/SideStage.java b/libs/WindowManager/Shell/src/com/android/wm/shell/splitscreen/SideStage.java
index 51104e44569ec..d67f4a6077b60 100644
--- a/libs/WindowManager/Shell/src/com/android/wm/shell/splitscreen/SideStage.java
+++ b/libs/WindowManager/Shell/src/com/android/wm/shell/splitscreen/SideStage.java
@@ -45,6 +45,11 @@ class SideStage extends StageTaskListener {
                 stageTaskUnfoldController);
     }
 
+    void moveToTop(Rect rootBounds, WindowContainerTransaction wct) {
+        final WindowContainerToken rootToken = mRootTaskInfo.token;
+        wct.setBounds(rootToken, rootBounds).reorder(rootToken, true /* onTop */);
+    }
+
     void addTask(ActivityManager.RunningTaskInfo task, Rect rootBounds,
             WindowContainerTransaction wct) {
         final WindowContainerToken rootToken = mRootTaskInfo.token;
diff --git a/libs/WindowManager/Shell/src/com/android/wm/shell/splitscreen/StageCoordinator.java b/libs/WindowManager/Shell/src/com/android/wm/shell/splitscreen/StageCoordinator.java
index 3b62afc7320e8..2cca41153ef0f 100644
--- a/libs/WindowManager/Shell/src/com/android/wm/shell/splitscreen/StageCoordinator.java
+++ b/libs/WindowManager/Shell/src/com/android/wm/shell/splitscreen/StageCoordinator.java
@@ -758,7 +758,7 @@ class StageCoordinator implements SplitLayout.SplitLayoutHandler,
             final WindowContainerTransaction wct = new WindowContainerTransaction();
             // Make sure the main stage is active.
             mMainStage.activate(getMainStageBounds(), wct, true /* reparent */);
-            mSideStage.setBounds(getSideStageBounds(), wct);
+            mSideStage.moveToTop(getSideStageBounds(), wct);
             mTaskOrganizer.applyTransaction(wct);
         }
         if (!mLogger.hasStartedSession() && mMainStageListener.mHasChildren