diff --git a/core/java/com/android/internal/app/AssistUtils.java b/core/java/com/android/internal/app/AssistUtils.java
index 294007946c773..6f920dea16375 100644
--- a/core/java/com/android/internal/app/AssistUtils.java
+++ b/core/java/com/android/internal/app/AssistUtils.java
@@ -32,6 +32,11 @@ import android.os.ServiceManager;
 import android.provider.Settings;
 import android.util.Log;
 
+import com.android.internal.R;
+
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.Set;
+
 /**
  * Utility method for dealing with the assistant aspects of
  * {@link com.android.internal.app.IVoiceInteractionManagerService IVoiceInteractionManagerService}.
@@ -40,6 +45,14 @@ public class AssistUtils {
 
     private static final String TAG = "AssistUtils";
 
+    /**
+     * Sentinel value for "no default assistant specified."
+     *
+     * Empty string is already used to represent an explicit setting of No Assistant. null cannot
+     * be used because we can't represent a null value in XML.
+     */
+    private static final String UNSET = "#+UNSET";
+
     private final Context mContext;
     private final IVoiceInteractionManagerService mVoiceInteractionManagerService;
 
@@ -152,13 +165,27 @@ public class AssistUtils {
             return ComponentName.unflattenFromString(setting);
         }
 
+        final String defaultSetting = mContext.getResources().getString(
+                R.string.config_defaultAssistantComponentName);
+        if (defaultSetting != null && !defaultSetting.equals(UNSET)) {
+            return ComponentName.unflattenFromString(defaultSetting);
+        }
+
         // Fallback to keep backward compatible behavior when there is no user setting.
         if (activeServiceSupportsAssistGesture()) {
             return getActiveServiceComponentName();
         }
 
-        Intent intent = ((SearchManager) mContext.getSystemService(Context.SEARCH_SERVICE))
-                .getAssistIntent(false);
+        if (UNSET.equals(defaultSetting)) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        final SearchManager searchManager =
+                (SearchManager) mContext.getSystemService(Context.SEARCH_SERVICE);
+        if (searchManager == null) {
+            return null;
+        }
+        final Intent intent = searchManager.getAssistIntent(false);
         PackageManager pm = mContext.getPackageManager();
         ResolveInfo info = pm.resolveActivityAsUser(intent, PackageManager.MATCH_DEFAULT_ONLY,
                 userId);
diff --git a/core/res/res/values/config.xml b/core/res/res/values/config.xml
index 3571ea766de4c..8059fe07818f6 100644
--- a/core/res/res/values/config.xml
+++ b/core/res/res/values/config.xml
@@ -2981,4 +2981,8 @@
 
     <!-- Allow SystemUI to show the shutdown dialog -->
     <bool name="config_showSysuiShutdown">true</bool>
+
+    <!-- Component name for default assistant on this device -->
+    <string name="config_defaultAssistantComponentName">#+UNSET</string>
+
 </resources>
diff --git a/core/res/res/values/symbols.xml b/core/res/res/values/symbols.xml
index 6209830b4ed10..7c6dc59a9a24a 100644
--- a/core/res/res/values/symbols.xml
+++ b/core/res/res/values/symbols.xml
@@ -3061,4 +3061,6 @@
   <java-symbol type="layout" name="shutdown_dialog" />
   <java-symbol type="dimen" name="chooser_service_spacing" />
   <java-symbol type="bool" name="config_showSysuiShutdown" />
+
+  <java-symbol type="string" name="config_defaultAssistantComponentName" />
 </resources>