diff --git a/services/java/com/android/server/SystemServer.java b/services/java/com/android/server/SystemServer.java
index a6e8ce1ba9611..6eb28a4eea59e 100644
--- a/services/java/com/android/server/SystemServer.java
+++ b/services/java/com/android/server/SystemServer.java
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ import android.os.FactoryTest;
 import android.os.FileUtils;
 import android.os.IIncidentManager;
 import android.os.Looper;
+import android.os.Message;
 import android.os.PowerManager;
 import android.os.Process;
 import android.os.RemoteException;
@@ -450,7 +451,20 @@ public final class SystemServer {
                     }
                 }
             }
-            ShutdownThread.rebootOrShutdown(null, reboot, reason);
+            Runnable runnable = new Runnable() {
+                @Override
+                public void run() {
+                    synchronized (this) {
+                        ShutdownThread.rebootOrShutdown(null, reboot, reason);
+                    }
+                }
+            };
+
+            // ShutdownThread must run on a looper capable of displaying the UI.
+            Message msg = Message.obtain(UiThread.getHandler(), runnable);
+            msg.setAsynchronous(true);
+            UiThread.getHandler().sendMessage(msg);
+
         }
     }