diff --git a/services/java/com/android/server/SystemServer.java b/services/java/com/android/server/SystemServer.java
index 221b9b4c815ed..c828accdf031c 100644
--- a/services/java/com/android/server/SystemServer.java
+++ b/services/java/com/android/server/SystemServer.java
@@ -1331,11 +1331,13 @@ public final class SystemServer {
                     traceEnd();
                 }
 
-                if (mPackageManager.hasSystemFeature(PackageManager.FEATURE_VOICE_RECOGNIZERS)) {
-                    traceBeginAndSlog("StartVoiceRecognitionManager");
-                    mSystemServiceManager.startService(VOICE_RECOGNITION_MANAGER_SERVICE_CLASS);
-                    traceEnd();
-                }
+                // We need to always start this service, regardless of whether the
+                // FEATURE_VOICE_RECOGNIZERS feature is set, because it needs to take care
+                // of initializing various settings.  It will internally modify its behavior
+                // based on that feature.
+                traceBeginAndSlog("StartVoiceRecognitionManager");
+                mSystemServiceManager.startService(VOICE_RECOGNITION_MANAGER_SERVICE_CLASS);
+                traceEnd();
 
                 if (GestureLauncherService.isGestureLauncherEnabled(context.getResources())) {
                     traceBeginAndSlog("StartGestureLauncher");
diff --git a/services/voiceinteraction/java/com/android/server/voiceinteraction/VoiceInteractionManagerService.java b/services/voiceinteraction/java/com/android/server/voiceinteraction/VoiceInteractionManagerService.java
index 4ffacfd7056aa..1569ac32128be 100644
--- a/services/voiceinteraction/java/com/android/server/voiceinteraction/VoiceInteractionManagerService.java
+++ b/services/voiceinteraction/java/com/android/server/voiceinteraction/VoiceInteractionManagerService.java
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ public class VoiceInteractionManagerService extends SystemService {
         private final boolean mEnableService;
 
         VoiceInteractionManagerServiceStub() {
-            mEnableService = shouldEnableService(mContext.getResources());
+            mEnableService = shouldEnableService(mContext);
         }
 
         // TODO: VI Make sure the caller is the current user or profile
@@ -348,10 +348,15 @@ public class VoiceInteractionManagerService extends SystemService {
             }
         }
 
-        private boolean shouldEnableService(Resources res) {
-            // VoiceInteractionService should not be enabled on low ram devices unless it has the config flag.
-            return !ActivityManager.isLowRamDeviceStatic() ||
-                    getForceVoiceInteractionServicePackage(res) != null;
+        private boolean shouldEnableService(Context context) {
+            // VoiceInteractionService should not be enabled on any low RAM devices
+            // or devices that have not declared the recognition feature, unless the
+            // device's configuration has explicitly set the config flag for a fixed
+            // voice interaction service.
+            return (!ActivityManager.isLowRamDeviceStatic()
+                            && context.getPackageManager().hasSystemFeature(
+                                    PackageManager.FEATURE_VOICE_RECOGNIZERS)) ||
+                    getForceVoiceInteractionServicePackage(context.getResources()) != null;
         }
 
         private String getForceVoiceInteractionServicePackage(Resources res) {