diff --git a/core/java/android/view/AccessibilityIterators.java b/core/java/android/view/AccessibilityIterators.java
index 386c866d68479..cd54f249f47c3 100644
--- a/core/java/android/view/AccessibilityIterators.java
+++ b/core/java/android/view/AccessibilityIterators.java
@@ -287,12 +287,12 @@ public final class AccessibilityIterators {
                     }
                 }
             }
-            while (start < textLength && mText.charAt(start) == '\n') {
-                start++;
-            }
             if (start < 0) {
                 return null;
             }
+            while (start < textLength && mText.charAt(start) == '\n') {
+                start++;
+            }
             int end = start;
             for (int i = end + 1; i < textLength; i++) {
                 end = i;