diff --git a/services/core/java/com/android/server/policy/PhoneWindowManager.java b/services/core/java/com/android/server/policy/PhoneWindowManager.java
index a154552914be0..db7a2f98111e0 100644
--- a/services/core/java/com/android/server/policy/PhoneWindowManager.java
+++ b/services/core/java/com/android/server/policy/PhoneWindowManager.java
@@ -1051,12 +1051,6 @@ public class PhoneWindowManager implements WindowManagerPolicy {
             return;
         }
 
-        // Make sure the device locks. Unfortunately, this has the side-effect of briefly revealing
-        // the lock screen before the dream appears. Note that this locking behavior needs to
-        // happen regardless of whether we end up dreaming (below) or not.
-        // TODO(b/261662912): Find a better way to lock the device that doesn't result in jank.
-        lockNow(null);
-
         // Don't dream if the user isn't user zero.
         // TODO(b/261907079): Move this check to DreamManagerService#canStartDreamingInternal().
         if (ActivityManager.getCurrentUser() != UserHandle.USER_SYSTEM) {
@@ -1070,6 +1064,12 @@ public class PhoneWindowManager implements WindowManagerPolicy {
             return;
         }
 
+        // Make sure the device locks. Unfortunately, this has the side-effect of briefly revealing
+        // the lock screen before the dream appears. Note that locking is a side-effect of the no
+        // dream action that is executed if we early return above.
+        // TODO(b/261662912): Find a better way to lock the device that doesn't result in jank.
+        lockNow(null);
+
         dreamManagerInternal.requestDream();
     }