diff --git a/core/java/android/app/servertransaction/TransactionExecutorHelper.java b/core/java/android/app/servertransaction/TransactionExecutorHelper.java
index 92f7dee0b0add..cb6aa09cc6dbc 100644
--- a/core/java/android/app/servertransaction/TransactionExecutorHelper.java
+++ b/core/java/android/app/servertransaction/TransactionExecutorHelper.java
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ import android.app.ActivityThread.ActivityClientRecord;
 import android.app.ClientTransactionHandler;
 import android.os.IBinder;
 import android.util.IntArray;
+import android.util.Log;
 
 import com.android.internal.annotations.VisibleForTesting;
 
@@ -43,6 +44,7 @@ import java.util.List;
  * @hide
  */
 public class TransactionExecutorHelper {
+    private static final String TAG = TransactionExecutorHelper.class.getSimpleName();
     // A penalty applied to path with destruction when looking for the shortest one.
     private static final int DESTRUCTION_PENALTY = 10;
 
@@ -162,6 +164,11 @@ public class TransactionExecutorHelper {
         if (finalStates == null || finalStates.length == 0) {
             return UNDEFINED;
         }
+        if (r == null) {
+            // Early return because the ActivityClientRecord hasn't been created or cannot be found.
+            Log.w(TAG, "ActivityClientRecord was null");
+            return UNDEFINED;
+        }
 
         final int currentState = r.getLifecycleState();
         int closestState = UNDEFINED;