diff --git a/packages/CarSystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/notifications/NotificationsUI.java b/packages/CarSystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/notifications/NotificationsUI.java
index 48cb55b3d90ec..2e2f3b7bea111 100644
--- a/packages/CarSystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/notifications/NotificationsUI.java
+++ b/packages/CarSystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/notifications/NotificationsUI.java
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ import com.android.systemui.Dependency;
 import com.android.systemui.R;
 import com.android.systemui.SystemUI;
 import com.android.systemui.statusbar.FlingAnimationUtils;
+import com.android.systemui.statusbar.car.CarStatusBar;
 import com.android.systemui.statusbar.policy.ConfigurationController;
 
 /**
@@ -90,6 +91,7 @@ public class NotificationsUI extends SystemUI
     private FlingAnimationUtils mFlingAnimationUtils;
     private static int sSettleOpenPercentage;
     private static int sSettleClosePercentage;
+    private CarStatusBar mCarStatusBar;
 
     /**
      * Inits the window that hosts the notifications and establishes the connections
@@ -230,6 +232,10 @@ public class NotificationsUI extends SystemUI
         inflateNotificationContent();
     }
 
+    public void setStatusBar(CarStatusBar carStatusBar) {
+        mCarStatusBar = carStatusBar;
+    }
+
     public View.OnTouchListener getDragDownListener() {
         return mOnTouchListener;
     }
@@ -328,6 +334,9 @@ public class NotificationsUI extends SystemUI
         @Override
         public boolean onScroll(MotionEvent event1, MotionEvent event2, float distanceX,
                 float distanceY) {
+            if (mCarStatusBar == null || !mCarStatusBar.getIsUserSetup()) {
+                return true;
+            }
             boolean isDown = event1.getY() - event2.getY() < 0;
             // CarStatusBar and NavigationBar are identical so avoid the touch if it
             // starts from NavigationBar to open.
@@ -442,6 +451,9 @@ public class NotificationsUI extends SystemUI
      * Sets the notifications to visible
      */
     public void openCarNotifications(float velocityY) {
+        if (mCarStatusBar == null || !mCarStatusBar.getIsUserSetup()) {
+            return;
+        }
         mCarNotificationWindow.setVisibility(View.VISIBLE);
 
         ValueAnimator animator = ValueAnimator.ofFloat(mContent.getTranslationY(), 0);
diff --git a/packages/CarSystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/car/CarStatusBar.java b/packages/CarSystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/car/CarStatusBar.java
index 45459fc337b56..abe9be87fe7bb 100644
--- a/packages/CarSystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/car/CarStatusBar.java
+++ b/packages/CarSystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/car/CarStatusBar.java
@@ -262,6 +262,7 @@ public class CarStatusBar extends StatusBar implements
         topBar.setStatusBar(this);
         CarNavigationBarView qsTopBar = mStatusBarWindow.findViewById(R.id.qs_car_top_bar);
         qsTopBar.setStatusBar(this);
+        getComponent(NotificationsUI.class).setStatusBar(this);
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -614,6 +615,11 @@ public class CarStatusBar extends StatusBar implements
         return mContext.getDrawable(com.android.internal.R.drawable.default_wallpaper);
     }
 
+    /** Returns true if the current user makes it through the setup wizard, false otherwise. */
+    public boolean getIsUserSetup(){
+        return mUserSetup;
+    }
+
     public void toggleCarNotifications() {
         getComponent(NotificationsUI.class).toggleShowingCarNotifications();
     }