diff --git a/services/java/com/android/server/SystemServer.java b/services/java/com/android/server/SystemServer.java
index 649f3e8d63f10..54334e9e94280 100644
--- a/services/java/com/android/server/SystemServer.java
+++ b/services/java/com/android/server/SystemServer.java
@@ -460,6 +460,12 @@ public final class SystemServer {
             }
         }
 
+        // Diagnostic to ensure that the system is in a base healthy state. Done here as a common
+        // non-zygote process.
+        if (!VMRuntime.hasBootImageSpaces()) {
+            Slog.wtf(TAG, "Runtime is not running with a boot image!");
+        }
+
         // Loop forever.
         Looper.loop();
         throw new RuntimeException("Main thread loop unexpectedly exited");