diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/res/values/strings.xml b/packages/SystemUI/res/values/strings.xml
index 0445fe816af63..e9a1acff87b06 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -670,6 +670,8 @@
     <string name="recents_lock_to_app_button_label">lock to app</string>
     <!-- Recents: Temporary string for the button in the recents search bar. [CHAR LIMIT=NONE] -->
     <string name="recents_search_bar_label">search</string>
+    <!-- Recents: Launch error string. [CHAR LIMIT=NONE] -->
+    <string name="recents_launch_error_message">Could not start <xliff:g id="app" example="Calendar">%s</xliff:g>.</string>
 
 
     <!-- Expanded Status Bar Header: Battery Charged [CHAR LIMIT=40] -->
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/AlternateRecentsComponent.java b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/AlternateRecentsComponent.java
index 787de4ed01099..702f59a5b4208 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/AlternateRecentsComponent.java
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/AlternateRecentsComponent.java
@@ -222,9 +222,8 @@ public class AlternateRecentsComponent implements ActivityOptions.OnAnimationSta
             // Bring an active task to the foreground
             mSystemServicesProxy.moveTaskToFront(toTask.key.id, launchOpts);
         } else {
-            try {
-                mSystemServicesProxy.startActivityFromRecents(toTask.key.id, launchOpts);
-            } catch (ActivityNotFoundException anfe) {}
+            mSystemServicesProxy.startActivityFromRecents(mContext, toTask.key.id,
+                    toTask.activityLabel, launchOpts);
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/RecentsActivity.java b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/RecentsActivity.java
index 8f92027206d34..933d3caebae7f 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/RecentsActivity.java
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/RecentsActivity.java
@@ -613,6 +613,12 @@ public class RecentsActivity extends Activity implements RecentsView.RecentsView
         mVisible = false;
     }
 
+    @Override
+    public void onTaskLaunchFailed() {
+        // Return to Home
+        dismissRecentsToHomeRaw(true);
+    }
+
     @Override
     public void onAllTaskViewsDismissed() {
         mFinishLaunchHomeRunnable.run();
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/misc/SystemServicesProxy.java b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/misc/SystemServicesProxy.java
index bbd0a0d6f2155..55413c6020779 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/misc/SystemServicesProxy.java
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/misc/SystemServicesProxy.java
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ import android.view.DisplayInfo;
 import android.view.SurfaceControl;
 import android.view.WindowManager;
 import android.view.accessibility.AccessibilityManager;
+import com.android.systemui.R;
 import com.android.systemui.recents.Constants;
 
 import java.io.IOException;
@@ -509,12 +510,18 @@ public class SystemServicesProxy {
         return takeScreenshot();
     }
 
-    public void startActivityFromRecents(int taskId, ActivityOptions options) {
+    /** Starts an activity from recents. */
+    public boolean startActivityFromRecents(Context context, int taskId, String taskName,
+            ActivityOptions options) {
         if (mIam != null) {
             try {
                 mIam.startActivityFromRecents(taskId, options == null ? null : options.toBundle());
-            } catch (RemoteException e) {
+                return true;
+            } catch (Exception e) {
+                Console.logError(context,
+                        context.getString(R.string.recents_launch_error_message, taskName));
             }
         }
+        return false;
     }
 }
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/views/RecentsView.java b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/views/RecentsView.java
index 1bfb41f9ac955..bb4010e7b688b 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/views/RecentsView.java
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/views/RecentsView.java
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ public class RecentsView extends FrameLayout implements TaskStackView.TaskStackV
     /** The RecentsView callbacks */
     public interface RecentsViewCallbacks {
         public void onTaskViewClicked();
+        public void onTaskLaunchFailed();
         public void onAllTaskViewsDismissed();
         public void onExitToHomeAnimationTriggered();
     }
@@ -470,13 +471,18 @@ public class RecentsView extends FrameLayout implements TaskStackView.TaskStackV
                     // Bring an active task to the foreground
                     ssp.moveTaskToFront(task.key.id, launchOpts);
                 } else {
-                    try {
-                        ssp.startActivityFromRecents(task.key.id, launchOpts);
+                    if (ssp.startActivityFromRecents(getContext(), task.key.id,
+                            task.activityLabel, launchOpts)) {
                         if (launchOpts == null && lockToTask) {
                             ssp.lockCurrentTask();
                         }
-                    } catch (ActivityNotFoundException anfe) {
-                        Console.logError(getContext(), "Could not start Activity");
+                    } else {
+                        // Dismiss the task and return the user to home if we fail to
+                        // launch the task
+                        onTaskViewDismissed(task);
+                        if (mCb != null) {
+                            mCb.onTaskLaunchFailed();
+                        }
                     }
                 }
             }