diff --git a/core/res/res/values/config.xml b/core/res/res/values/config.xml
index 8d644e96dca8f..e1b50d6e1f8b0 100644
--- a/core/res/res/values/config.xml
+++ b/core/res/res/values/config.xml
@@ -2193,6 +2193,9 @@
     <!-- The name of the package that will hold the system financed device controller role. -->
     <string name="config_systemFinancedDeviceController" translatable="false">com.android.devicelockcontroller</string>
 
+    <!-- The component name of the wear service class that will be started by the system server. -->
+    <string name="config_wearServiceComponent" translatable="false"></string>
+
     <!-- The name of the package that will handle updating the device management role. -->
     <string name="config_devicePolicyManagementUpdater" translatable="false"></string>
 
diff --git a/core/res/res/values/symbols.xml b/core/res/res/values/symbols.xml
index 77542564fa804..233813edaf604 100644
--- a/core/res/res/values/symbols.xml
+++ b/core/res/res/values/symbols.xml
@@ -4926,6 +4926,7 @@
   <java-symbol type="array" name="config_displayShapeArray" />
 
   <java-symbol type="bool" name="config_stopSystemPackagesByDefault"/>
+  <java-symbol type="string" name="config_wearServiceComponent" />
 
   <!-- Whether to show weather on the lockscreen by default. -->
   <java-symbol type="bool" name="config_lockscreenWeatherEnabledByDefault" />
diff --git a/services/java/com/android/server/SystemServer.java b/services/java/com/android/server/SystemServer.java
index d22be9ec01d05..5c6cc9f6ecaa3 100644
--- a/services/java/com/android/server/SystemServer.java
+++ b/services/java/com/android/server/SystemServer.java
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ import android.app.INotificationManager;
 import android.app.SystemServiceRegistry;
 import android.app.admin.DevicePolicySafetyChecker;
 import android.app.usage.UsageStatsManagerInternal;
+import android.content.ComponentName;
 import android.content.ContentResolver;
 import android.content.Context;
 import android.content.Intent;
@@ -2894,6 +2895,27 @@ public final class SystemServer implements Dumpable {
                 t.traceEnd();
             }
 
+            if (isWatch) {
+                t.traceBegin("StartWearService");
+                String wearServiceComponentNameString =
+                    context.getString(R.string.config_wearServiceComponent);
+
+                if (!TextUtils.isEmpty(wearServiceComponentNameString)) {
+                    ComponentName wearServiceComponentName = ComponentName.unflattenFromString(
+                        wearServiceComponentNameString);
+
+                    if (wearServiceComponentName != null) {
+                        Intent intent = new Intent();
+                        intent.setComponent(wearServiceComponentName);
+                        intent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_DIRECT_BOOT_AUTO);
+                        context.startServiceAsUser(intent, UserHandle.SYSTEM);
+                    } else {
+                        Slog.d(TAG, "Null wear service component name.");
+                    }
+                }
+                t.traceEnd();
+            }
+
             // Enable airplane mode in safe mode. setAirplaneMode() cannot be called
             // earlier as it sends broadcasts to other services.
             // TODO: This may actually be too late if radio firmware already started leaking