diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/phone/ScrimController.java b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/phone/ScrimController.java
index 8c95b844ae2f9..f853b638db464 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/phone/ScrimController.java
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/phone/ScrimController.java
@@ -503,8 +503,8 @@ public class ScrimController implements ViewTreeObserver.OnPreDrawListener, OnCo
      * device is dozing when the light sensor is on.
      */
     public void setAodFrontScrimAlpha(float alpha) {
-        if (mState == ScrimState.AOD && mDozeParameters.getAlwaysOn()
-                && mInFrontAlpha != alpha) {
+        if (((mState == ScrimState.AOD && mDozeParameters.getAlwaysOn())
+                || mState == ScrimState.PULSING) && mInFrontAlpha != alpha) {
             mInFrontAlpha = alpha;
             updateScrims();
         }
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/phone/ScrimControllerTest.java b/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/phone/ScrimControllerTest.java
index 2623b46ba50fa..5d3cdc88aa99e 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/phone/ScrimControllerTest.java
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/phone/ScrimControllerTest.java
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ public class ScrimControllerTest extends SysuiTestCase {
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void transitionToPulsing() {
+    public void transitionToPulsing_withFrontAlphaUpdates() {
         // Pre-condition
         // Need to go to AoD first because PULSING doesn't change
         // the back scrim opacity - otherwise it would hide AoD wallpapers.
@@ -267,11 +267,22 @@ public class ScrimControllerTest extends SysuiTestCase {
                 true /* behind */,
                 false /* bubble */);
 
+        // ... and when ambient goes dark, front scrim should be semi-transparent
+        mScrimController.setAodFrontScrimAlpha(0.5f);
+        mScrimController.finishAnimationsImmediately();
+        // Front scrim should be semi-transparent
+        assertScrimAlpha(SEMI_TRANSPARENT /* front */,
+                OPAQUE /* back */,
+                TRANSPARENT /* bubble */);
+
         mScrimController.setWakeLockScreenSensorActive(true);
         mScrimController.finishAnimationsImmediately();
-        assertScrimAlpha(TRANSPARENT /* front */,
+        assertScrimAlpha(SEMI_TRANSPARENT /* front */,
                 SEMI_TRANSPARENT /* back */,
                 TRANSPARENT /* bubble */);
+
+        // Reset value since enums are static.
+        mScrimController.setAodFrontScrimAlpha(0f);
     }
 
     @Test