diff --git a/services/core/java/com/android/server/audio/AudioService.java b/services/core/java/com/android/server/audio/AudioService.java
index 6c79c1a3a1c76..7c9a3ae260f4e 100644
--- a/services/core/java/com/android/server/audio/AudioService.java
+++ b/services/core/java/com/android/server/audio/AudioService.java
@@ -1320,6 +1320,11 @@ public class AudioService extends IAudioService.Stub
         }
         String enabledSurroundFormats = Settings.Global.getString(
                 cr, Settings.Global.ENCODED_SURROUND_OUTPUT_ENABLED_FORMATS);
+        if (enabledSurroundFormats == null) {
+            // Never allow enabledSurroundFormats as a null, which could happen when
+            // ENCODED_SURROUND_OUTPUT_ENABLED_FORMATS is not appear in settings DB.
+            enabledSurroundFormats = "";
+        }
         if (!forceUpdate && TextUtils.equals(enabledSurroundFormats, mEnabledSurroundFormats)) {
             // Update enabled surround formats to AudioPolicyManager only when forceUpdate
             // is true or enabled surround formats changed.