diff --git a/services/core/java/com/android/server/pm/PackageManagerService.java b/services/core/java/com/android/server/pm/PackageManagerService.java
index 9f5adcb6f16f3..2b3e1c5bbc768 100644
--- a/services/core/java/com/android/server/pm/PackageManagerService.java
+++ b/services/core/java/com/android/server/pm/PackageManagerService.java
@@ -9490,7 +9490,8 @@ public class PackageManagerService extends IPackageManager.Stub
     }
 
     boolean isOverlayMutable(String packageName) {
-        return mOverlayConfig.isMutable(packageName);
+        return (mOverlayConfig != null ? mOverlayConfig
+                : OverlayConfig.getSystemInstance()).isMutable(packageName);
     }
 
     @ScanFlags int getSystemPackageScanFlags(File codePath) {