diff --git a/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/ActivityStarter.java b/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/ActivityStarter.java
index ff7cb123b65b9..5145ab6bf3d6c 100644
--- a/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/ActivityStarter.java
+++ b/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/ActivityStarter.java
@@ -1558,6 +1558,7 @@ class ActivityStarter {
             TaskFragment inTaskFragment, boolean restrictedBgActivity,
             NeededUriGrants intentGrants) {
         int result = START_CANCELED;
+        boolean startResultSuccessful = false;
         final Task startedActivityRootTask;
 
         // Create a transition now to record the original intent of actions taken within
@@ -1583,6 +1584,15 @@ class ActivityStarter {
             result = startActivityInner(r, sourceRecord, voiceSession, voiceInteractor,
                     startFlags, doResume, options, inTask, inTaskFragment, restrictedBgActivity,
                     intentGrants);
+            startResultSuccessful = ActivityManager.isStartResultSuccessful(result);
+            final boolean taskAlwaysOnTop = options != null && options.getTaskAlwaysOnTop();
+            // Apply setAlwaysOnTop when starting an Activity is successful regardless of creating
+            // a new Activity or recycling the existing Activity.
+            if (taskAlwaysOnTop && startResultSuccessful) {
+                final Task targetRootTask =
+                        mTargetRootTask != null ? mTargetRootTask : mTargetTask.getRootTask();
+                targetRootTask.setAlwaysOnTop(true);
+            }
         } finally {
             Trace.traceEnd(Trace.TRACE_TAG_WINDOW_MANAGER);
             startedActivityRootTask = handleStartResult(r, result);
@@ -1590,7 +1600,7 @@ class ActivityStarter {
             mSupervisor.mUserLeaving = false;
 
             // Transition housekeeping
-            if (!ActivityManager.isStartResultSuccessful(result)) {
+            if (!startResultSuccessful) {
                 if (newTransition != null) {
                     newTransition.abort();
                 }
@@ -1754,11 +1764,6 @@ class ActivityStarter {
 
         if (!mAvoidMoveToFront && mDoResume) {
             mTargetRootTask.getRootTask().moveToFront("reuseOrNewTask", targetTask);
-            if (mOptions != null) {
-                if (mOptions.getTaskAlwaysOnTop()) {
-                    mTargetRootTask.setAlwaysOnTop(true);
-                }
-            }
             if (!mTargetRootTask.isTopRootTaskInDisplayArea() && mService.mInternal.isDreaming()) {
                 // Launching underneath dream activity (fullscreen, always-on-top). Run the launch-
                 // -behind transition so the Activity gets created and starts in visible state.