diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/stack/NotificationStackScrollLayout.java b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/stack/NotificationStackScrollLayout.java
index 61fed2dfdcfbb..d176b66caaec6 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/stack/NotificationStackScrollLayout.java
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/stack/NotificationStackScrollLayout.java
@@ -815,7 +815,8 @@ public class NotificationStackScrollLayout extends ViewGroup
      */
     private float getAppearEndPosition() {
         int appearPosition;
-        if (mEmptyShadeView.getVisibility() == GONE) {
+        int notGoneChildCount = getNotGoneChildCount();
+        if (mEmptyShadeView.getVisibility() == GONE && notGoneChildCount != 0) {
             int minNotificationsForShelf = 1;
             if (mTrackingHeadsUp || mHeadsUpManager.hasPinnedHeadsUp()) {
                 appearPosition = mHeadsUpManager.getTopHeadsUpPinnedHeight();
@@ -823,7 +824,7 @@ public class NotificationStackScrollLayout extends ViewGroup
             } else {
                 appearPosition = 0;
             }
-            if (getNotGoneChildCount() >= minNotificationsForShelf) {
+            if (notGoneChildCount >= minNotificationsForShelf) {
                 appearPosition += mShelf.getIntrinsicHeight();
             }
         } else {