diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/res/layout/recents_task_view.xml b/packages/SystemUI/res/layout/recents_task_view.xml
index 4442bca85915b..ddc0dbf12315d 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/res/layout/recents_task_view.xml
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/res/layout/recents_task_view.xml
@@ -22,26 +22,26 @@
         android:layout_width="match_parent"
         android:layout_height="match_parent" />
     <com.android.systemui.recents.views.TaskInfoView
-    	android:id="@+id/task_view_info_pane"
-    	android:layout_width="match_parent"
-    	android:layout_height="match_parent"
-    	android:visibility="invisible"
-        android:background="#e6444444">
+        android:id="@+id/task_view_info_pane"
+        android:layout_width="match_parent"
+        android:layout_height="match_parent"
+        android:visibility="invisible"
+        android:background="@color/recents_task_bar_default_background_color">
         <Button
-        	android:id="@+id/task_view_app_info_button"
-        	android:layout_width="match_parent"
-        	android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-        	android:layout_marginStart="20dp"
-        	android:layout_marginEnd="20dp"
-    		android:layout_gravity="top|center_horizontal"
-        	android:text="@string/recents_app_info_button_label" />
+            android:id="@+id/task_view_app_info_button"
+            android:layout_width="match_parent"
+            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+            android:layout_marginStart="20dp"
+            android:layout_marginEnd="20dp"
+            android:layout_gravity="top|center_horizontal"
+            android:text="@string/recents_app_info_button_label" />
     </com.android.systemui.recents.views.TaskInfoView>
     <com.android.systemui.recents.views.TaskBarView
         android:id="@+id/task_view_bar"
         android:layout_width="match_parent"
         android:layout_height="wrap_content"
         android:layout_gravity="top|center_horizontal"
-        android:background="#e6444444">
+        android:background="@color/recents_task_bar_default_background_color">
         <ImageView
             android:id="@+id/application_icon"
             android:layout_width="@dimen/recents_task_view_application_icon_size"
@@ -54,8 +54,8 @@
             android:layout_height="wrap_content"
             android:layout_gravity="center_vertical|left"
             android:layout_marginStart="@dimen/recents_task_view_application_icon_size"
-            android:layout_marginEnd="@dimen/recents_task_view_activity_icon_size"
-            android:textSize="24sp"
+            android:layout_marginEnd="8dp"
+            android:textSize="22sp"
             android:textColor="#ffffffff"
             android:text="@string/recents_empty_message"
             android:fontFamily="sans-serif-thin"
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/res/values/colors.xml b/packages/SystemUI/res/values/colors.xml
index 59e8360d5836b..9281265015710 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/res/values/colors.xml
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/res/values/colors.xml
@@ -49,4 +49,14 @@
 
     <!-- Tint color for the content on the notification overflow card. -->
     <color name="keyguard_overflow_content_color">#ff666666</color>
+
+    <!-- The default recents task bar background color. -->
+    <color name="recents_task_bar_default_background_color">#e6444444</color>
+    <!-- The default recents task bar text color. -->
+    <color name="recents_task_bar_default_text_color">#ffffffff</color>
+    <!-- The recents task bar light text color to be drawn on top of dark backgrounds. -->
+    <color name="recents_task_bar_light_text_color">#ffffffff</color>
+    <!-- The recents task bar dark text color to be drawn on top of light backgrounds. -->
+    <color name="recents_task_bar_dark_text_color">#ff222222</color>
+
 </resources>
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/RecentsTaskLoader.java b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/RecentsTaskLoader.java
index da265e1754efd..52bba4ad515ef 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/RecentsTaskLoader.java
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/recents/RecentsTaskLoader.java
@@ -413,6 +413,8 @@ public class RecentsTaskLoader {
         for (int i = 0; i < taskCount; i++) {
             ActivityManager.RecentTaskInfo t = tasks.get(i);
             ActivityInfo info = ssp.getActivityInfo(t.baseIntent.getComponent(), t.userId);
+            if (info == null) continue;
+
             String activityLabel = (t.activityLabel == null ? ssp.getActivityLabel(info) :
                     t.activityLabel.toString());
             BitmapDrawable activityIcon = null;