diff --git a/location/java/android/location/LocationRequest.java b/location/java/android/location/LocationRequest.java
index 3d0afb098697a..0480eab580ac3 100644
--- a/location/java/android/location/LocationRequest.java
+++ b/location/java/android/location/LocationRequest.java
@@ -683,6 +683,7 @@ public final class LocationRequest implements Parcelable {
                     request.setSmallestDisplacement(in.readFloat());
                     request.setHideFromAppOps(in.readInt() != 0);
                     request.setLowPowerMode(in.readInt() != 0);
+                    request.setLocationSettingsIgnored(in.readInt() != 0);
                     String provider = in.readString();
                     if (provider != null) request.setProvider(provider);
                     WorkSource workSource = in.readParcelable(null);
@@ -711,6 +712,7 @@ public final class LocationRequest implements Parcelable {
         parcel.writeFloat(mSmallestDisplacement);
         parcel.writeInt(mHideFromAppOps ? 1 : 0);
         parcel.writeInt(mLowPowerMode ? 1 : 0);
+        parcel.writeInt(mLocationSettingsIgnored ? 1 : 0);
         parcel.writeString(mProvider);
         parcel.writeParcelable(mWorkSource, 0);
     }
@@ -755,6 +757,9 @@ public final class LocationRequest implements Parcelable {
             s.append(" num=").append(mNumUpdates);
         }
         s.append(" lowPowerMode=").append(mLowPowerMode);
+        if (mLocationSettingsIgnored) {
+            s.append(" ignoreSettings");
+        }
         s.append(']');
         return s.toString();
     }
diff --git a/services/core/java/com/android/server/LocationManagerService.java b/services/core/java/com/android/server/LocationManagerService.java
index 7eb8e938628e0..33c6dd24012ae 100644
--- a/services/core/java/com/android/server/LocationManagerService.java
+++ b/services/core/java/com/android/server/LocationManagerService.java
@@ -405,6 +405,7 @@ public class LocationManagerService extends ILocationManager.Stub {
 
         // initialize in-memory settings values
         onBackgroundThrottleWhitelistChangedLocked();
+        onIgnoreSettingsWhitelistChangedLocked();
     }
 
     @GuardedBy("mLock")
@@ -547,17 +548,16 @@ public class LocationManagerService extends ILocationManager.Stub {
 
     @GuardedBy("mLock")
     private void onBackgroundThrottleWhitelistChangedLocked() {
-        String setting = Settings.Global.getString(
-                mContext.getContentResolver(),
-                Settings.Global.LOCATION_BACKGROUND_THROTTLE_PACKAGE_WHITELIST);
-        if (setting == null) {
-            setting = "";
-        }
-
         mBackgroundThrottlePackageWhitelist.clear();
         mBackgroundThrottlePackageWhitelist.addAll(
                 SystemConfig.getInstance().getAllowUnthrottledLocation());
-        mBackgroundThrottlePackageWhitelist.addAll(Arrays.asList(setting.split(",")));
+
+        String setting = Settings.Global.getString(
+                mContext.getContentResolver(),
+                Settings.Global.LOCATION_BACKGROUND_THROTTLE_PACKAGE_WHITELIST);
+        if (!TextUtils.isEmpty(setting)) {
+            mBackgroundThrottlePackageWhitelist.addAll(Arrays.asList(setting.split(",")));
+        }
 
         for (LocationProvider p : mProviders) {
             applyRequirementsLocked(p);
@@ -566,17 +566,16 @@ public class LocationManagerService extends ILocationManager.Stub {
 
     @GuardedBy("lock")
     private void onIgnoreSettingsWhitelistChangedLocked() {
-        String setting = Settings.Global.getString(
-                mContext.getContentResolver(),
-                Settings.Global.LOCATION_IGNORE_SETTINGS_PACKAGE_WHITELIST);
-        if (setting == null) {
-            setting = "";
-        }
-
         mIgnoreSettingsPackageWhitelist.clear();
         mIgnoreSettingsPackageWhitelist.addAll(
                 SystemConfig.getInstance().getAllowIgnoreLocationSettings());
-        mIgnoreSettingsPackageWhitelist.addAll(Arrays.asList(setting.split(",")));
+
+        String setting = Settings.Global.getString(
+                mContext.getContentResolver(),
+                Settings.Global.LOCATION_IGNORE_SETTINGS_PACKAGE_WHITELIST);
+        if (!TextUtils.isEmpty(setting)) {
+            mIgnoreSettingsPackageWhitelist.addAll(Arrays.asList(setting.split(",")));
+        }
 
         for (LocationProvider p : mProviders) {
             applyRequirementsLocked(p);