diff --git a/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/ActivityRecord.java b/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/ActivityRecord.java
index 520ebc9023c63..fcc2bd6d00326 100644
--- a/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/ActivityRecord.java
+++ b/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/ActivityRecord.java
@@ -4007,6 +4007,13 @@ final class ActivityRecord extends WindowToken implements WindowManagerService.A
     private boolean transferStartingWindow(@NonNull ActivityRecord fromActivity) {
         final WindowState tStartingWindow = fromActivity.mStartingWindow;
         if (tStartingWindow != null && fromActivity.mStartingSurface != null) {
+            if (tStartingWindow.getParent() == null) {
+                // The window has been detached from the parent, so the window cannot be transfer
+                // to another activity because it may be in the remove process.
+                // Don't need to remove the starting window at this point because that will happen
+                // at #postWindowRemoveCleanupLocked
+                return false;
+            }
             // In this case, the starting icon has already been displayed, so start
             // letting windows get shown immediately without any more transitions.
             if (fromActivity.mVisible) {