diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/notification/VisualStabilityManager.java b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/notification/VisualStabilityManager.java
index a4e591625a95c..8dab06908001e 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/notification/VisualStabilityManager.java
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/notification/VisualStabilityManager.java
@@ -72,6 +72,9 @@ public class VisualStabilityManager implements OnHeadsUpChangedListener {
      * @param pulsing whether we are currently pulsing for ambient display.
      */
     public void setPulsing(boolean pulsing) {
+        if (mPulsing == pulsing) {
+            return;
+        }
         mPulsing = pulsing;
         updateReorderingAllowed();
     }
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/phone/StatusBar.java b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/phone/StatusBar.java
index bc43663ba2613..91a71d1eb753c 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/phone/StatusBar.java
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/phone/StatusBar.java
@@ -5005,8 +5005,12 @@ public class StatusBar extends SystemUI implements DemoMode,
                 @Override
                 public void onPulseStarted() {
                     callback.onPulseStarted();
-                    mStackScroller.setPulsing(true);
-                    mVisualStabilityManager.setPulsing(true);
+                    if (!mHeadsUpManager.getAllEntries().isEmpty()) {
+                        // Only pulse the stack scroller if there's actually something to show.
+                        // Otherwise just show the always-on screen.
+                        mStackScroller.setPulsing(true);
+                        mVisualStabilityManager.setPulsing(true);
+                    }
                 }
 
                 @Override
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 dd4e876604f26..99e09c6e7e260 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/stack/NotificationStackScrollLayout.java
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/stack/NotificationStackScrollLayout.java
@@ -4004,6 +4004,9 @@ public class NotificationStackScrollLayout extends ViewGroup
     }
 
     public void setPulsing(boolean pulsing) {
+        if (mPulsing == pulsing) {
+            return;
+        }
         mPulsing = pulsing;
         updateNotificationAnimationStates();
         updateContentHeight();