diff --git a/telephony/java/android/telephony/SmsManager.java b/telephony/java/android/telephony/SmsManager.java
index 68602354d3b08..b44e4f179392a 100644
--- a/telephony/java/android/telephony/SmsManager.java
+++ b/telephony/java/android/telephony/SmsManager.java
@@ -1975,9 +1975,11 @@ public final class SmsManager {
      */
     public static int getDefaultSmsSubscriptionId() {
         try {
-            return getISmsServiceOrThrow().getPreferredSmsSubscription();
+            return getISmsService().getPreferredSmsSubscription();
         } catch (RemoteException e) {
             return SubscriptionManager.INVALID_SUBSCRIPTION_ID;
+        } catch (NullPointerException e) {
+            return SubscriptionManager.INVALID_SUBSCRIPTION_ID;
         }
     }