diff --git a/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/Task.java b/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/Task.java
index 91c0c6953a9ab..bda0a0f57ed71 100644
--- a/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/Task.java
+++ b/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/Task.java
@@ -5748,7 +5748,7 @@ class Task extends TaskFragment {
                 false /* deferResume */);
 
         ActivityRecord topActivity = getDisplayArea().topRunningActivity();
-        Task topRootTask = topActivity.getRootTask();
+        Task topRootTask = topActivity == null ? null : topActivity.getRootTask();
         if (topRootTask != null && topRootTask != this && topActivity.isState(RESUMED)) {
             // Usually resuming a top activity triggers the next app transition, but nothing's got
             // resumed in this case, so we need to execute it explicitly.