diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/navigationbar/NavigationBarView.java b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/navigationbar/NavigationBarView.java
index 40265a367a06b..f5abe28914c35 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/navigationbar/NavigationBarView.java
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/navigationbar/NavigationBarView.java
@@ -143,7 +143,6 @@ public class NavigationBarView extends FrameLayout {
     private boolean mDeadZoneConsuming = false;
     private final NavigationBarTransitions mBarTransitions;
     private final OverviewProxyService mOverviewProxyService;
-    @Nullable
     private AutoHideController mAutoHideController;
 
     // performs manual animation in sync with layout transitions
@@ -317,7 +316,7 @@ public class NavigationBarView extends FrameLayout {
             };
 
     private final Consumer<Boolean> mNavbarOverlayVisibilityChangeCallback = (visible) -> {
-        if (visible && mAutoHideController != null) {
+        if (visible) {
             mAutoHideController.touchAutoHide();
         }
         notifyActiveTouchRegions();