diff --git a/services/java/com/android/server/HardwareService.java b/services/java/com/android/server/HardwareService.java
index 7597f851e3a6e..6ac72e0d57c81 100755
--- a/services/java/com/android/server/HardwareService.java
+++ b/services/java/com/android/server/HardwareService.java
@@ -141,8 +141,11 @@ public class HardwareService extends IHardwareService.Stub {
                 != PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {
             throw new SecurityException("Requires VIBRATE permission");
         }
-        if (mCurrentVibration != null
-                && mCurrentVibration.hasLongerTimeout(milliseconds)) {
+        // We're running in the system server so we cannot crash. Check for a
+        // timeout of 0 or negative. This will ensure that a vibration has
+        // either a timeout of > 0 or a non-null pattern.
+        if (milliseconds <= 0 || (mCurrentVibration != null
+                && mCurrentVibration.hasLongerTimeout(milliseconds))) {
             // Ignore this vibration since the current vibration will play for
             // longer than milliseconds.
             return;