diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/phone/CentralSurfacesImpl.java b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/phone/CentralSurfacesImpl.java
index 4a3a2d059b9c1..39593841c9ca1 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/phone/CentralSurfacesImpl.java
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/phone/CentralSurfacesImpl.java
@@ -865,6 +865,11 @@ public class CentralSurfacesImpl implements CoreStartable, CentralSurfaces {
         wiredChargingRippleController.registerCallbacks();
 
         mLightRevealScrimViewModelLazy = lightRevealScrimViewModelLazy;
+
+        // Based on teamfood flag, turn predictive back dispatch on at runtime.
+        if (mFeatureFlags.isEnabled(Flags.WM_ENABLE_PREDICTIVE_BACK_SYSUI)) {
+            mContext.getApplicationInfo().setEnableOnBackInvokedCallback(true);
+        }
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -979,11 +984,6 @@ public class CentralSurfacesImpl implements CoreStartable, CentralSurfaces {
         // Lastly, call to the icon policy to install/update all the icons.
         mIconPolicy.init();
 
-        // Based on teamfood flag, turn predictive back dispatch on at runtime.
-        if (mFeatureFlags.isEnabled(Flags.WM_ENABLE_PREDICTIVE_BACK_SYSUI)) {
-            mContext.getApplicationInfo().setEnableOnBackInvokedCallback(true);
-        }
-
         mKeyguardStateController.addCallback(new KeyguardStateController.Callback() {
             @Override
             public void onUnlockedChanged() {
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/phone/CentralSurfacesImplTest.java b/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/phone/CentralSurfacesImplTest.java
index 4c1b219af843a..cf69515e5e412 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/phone/CentralSurfacesImplTest.java
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/phone/CentralSurfacesImplTest.java
@@ -321,6 +321,10 @@ public class CentralSurfacesImplTest extends SysuiTestCase {
     public void setup() throws Exception {
         MockitoAnnotations.initMocks(this);
 
+        // CentralSurfacesImpl's runtime flag check fails if the flag is absent.
+        // This value is unused, because test manifest is opted in.
+        mFeatureFlags.set(Flags.WM_ENABLE_PREDICTIVE_BACK_SYSUI, false);
+
         IThermalService thermalService = mock(IThermalService.class);
         mPowerManager = new PowerManager(mContext, mPowerManagerService, thermalService,
                 Handler.createAsync(Looper.myLooper()));