diff --git a/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/AppWindowToken.java b/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/AppWindowToken.java
index 6c577e150e54d..f1a9e60d18aa5 100644
--- a/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/AppWindowToken.java
+++ b/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/AppWindowToken.java
@@ -206,6 +206,7 @@ class AppWindowToken extends WindowToken implements WindowManagerService.AppFree
     boolean removed;
 
     // Information about an application starting window if displayed.
+    // Note: these are de-referenced before the starting window animates away.
     StartingData mStartingData;
     WindowState startingWindow;
     StartingSurface startingSurface;
@@ -1243,6 +1244,21 @@ class AppWindowToken extends WindowToken implements WindowManagerService.AppFree
         return true;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * @return {@code true} if starting window is in app's hierarchy.
+     */
+    boolean hasStartingWindow() {
+        if (startingDisplayed || mStartingData != null) {
+            return true;
+        }
+        for (int i = mChildren.size() - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
+            if (getChildAt(i).mAttrs.type == TYPE_APPLICATION_STARTING) {
+                return true;
+            }
+        }
+        return false;
+    }
+
     @Override
     void addWindow(WindowState w) {
         super.addWindow(w);
diff --git a/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/DisplayContent.java b/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/DisplayContent.java
index a1b87605ac1f7..885095f248f49 100644
--- a/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/DisplayContent.java
+++ b/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/DisplayContent.java
@@ -4845,9 +4845,13 @@ class DisplayContent extends WindowContainer<DisplayContent.DisplayChildWindowCo
         //
         // In the case where we have no IME target we assign it where it's base layer would
         // place it in the AboveAppWindowContainers.
-        if (imeTarget != null && !(imeTarget.inSplitScreenWindowingMode()
-                || imeTarget.mToken.isAppAnimating())
-                && (imeTarget.getSurfaceControl() != null)) {
+        //
+        // Keep IME window in mAboveAppWindowsContainers as long as app's starting window exists
+        // so it get's layered above the starting window.
+        if (imeTarget != null
+                && !(imeTarget.mAppToken != null && imeTarget.mAppToken.hasStartingWindow())
+                && (!(imeTarget.inSplitScreenWindowingMode() || imeTarget.mToken.isAppAnimating())
+                && (imeTarget.getSurfaceControl() != null))) {
             mImeWindowsContainers.assignRelativeLayer(t, imeTarget.getSurfaceControl(),
                     // TODO: We need to use an extra level on the app surface to ensure
                     // this is always above SurfaceView but always below attached window.
diff --git a/services/tests/wmtests/src/com/android/server/wm/AppWindowTokenTests.java b/services/tests/wmtests/src/com/android/server/wm/AppWindowTokenTests.java
index 7f35dac9611ae..d9566a3c871d9 100644
--- a/services/tests/wmtests/src/com/android/server/wm/AppWindowTokenTests.java
+++ b/services/tests/wmtests/src/com/android/server/wm/AppWindowTokenTests.java
@@ -504,6 +504,21 @@ public class AppWindowTokenTests extends WindowTestsBase {
         assertEquals(stackBounds, mToken.getAnimationBounds(STACK_CLIP_BEFORE_ANIM));
     }
 
+    @Test
+    public void testHasStartingWindow() {
+        final WindowManager.LayoutParams attrs =
+                new WindowManager.LayoutParams(TYPE_APPLICATION_STARTING);
+        final WindowTestUtils.TestWindowState startingWindow = createWindowState(attrs, mToken);
+        mToken.startingDisplayed = true;
+        mToken.addWindow(startingWindow);
+        assertTrue("Starting window should be present", mToken.hasStartingWindow());
+        mToken.startingDisplayed = false;
+        assertTrue("Starting window should be present", mToken.hasStartingWindow());
+
+        mToken.removeChild(startingWindow);
+        assertFalse("Starting window should not be present", mToken.hasStartingWindow());
+    }
+
     private void assertHasStartingWindow(AppWindowToken atoken) {
         assertNotNull(atoken.startingSurface);
         assertNotNull(atoken.mStartingData);