diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/AndroidManifest.xml b/packages/SystemUI/AndroidManifest.xml
index 5c369afc1fcd7..59be7a8951570 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -1011,5 +1011,16 @@
             android:exported="true"
             android:permission="android.permission.CUSTOMIZE_SYSTEM_UI"
             />
+
+        <!-- TODO(b/278897602): Disable EmojiCompatInitializer until threading issues are fixed.
+             https://developer.android.com/reference/androidx/emoji2/text/EmojiCompatInitializer -->
+        <provider
+            android:name="androidx.startup.InitializationProvider"
+            android:authorities="${applicationId}.androidx-startup"
+            android:exported="false"
+            tools:node="merge">
+            <meta-data android:name="androidx.emoji2.text.EmojiCompatInitializer"
+                tools:node="remove" />
+        </provider>
     </application>
 </manifest>