diff --git a/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/DisplayContent.java b/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/DisplayContent.java
index e840342975d12..fbe6f94ddc3be 100644
--- a/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/DisplayContent.java
+++ b/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/DisplayContent.java
@@ -324,6 +324,9 @@ class DisplayContent extends WindowContainer<DisplayContent.DisplayChildWindowCo
     // the display's direct children should be allowed.
     private boolean mRemovingDisplay = false;
 
+    // {@code false} if this display is in the processing of being created.
+    private boolean mDisplayReady = false;
+
     private final WindowLayersController mLayersController;
     WallpaperController mWallpaperController;
     int mInputMethodAnimLayerAdjustment;
@@ -730,7 +733,6 @@ class DisplayContent extends WindowContainer<DisplayContent.DisplayChildWindowCo
      */
     DisplayContent(Display display, WindowManagerService service,
             WindowLayersController layersController, WallpaperController wallpaperController) {
-
         if (service.mRoot.getDisplayContent(display.getDisplayId()) != null) {
             throw new IllegalArgumentException("Display with ID=" + display.getDisplayId()
                     + " already exists=" + service.mRoot.getDisplayContent(display.getDisplayId())
@@ -758,6 +760,15 @@ class DisplayContent extends WindowContainer<DisplayContent.DisplayChildWindowCo
 
         // Add itself as a child to the root container.
         mService.mRoot.addChild(this, null);
+
+        // TODO(b/62541591): evaluate whether this is the best spot to declare the
+        // {@link DisplayContent} ready for use.
+        mDisplayReady = true;
+    }
+
+    boolean isReady() {
+        // The display is ready when the system and the individual display are both ready.
+        return mService.mDisplayReady && mDisplayReady;
     }
 
     int getDisplayId() {
diff --git a/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/WindowAnimator.java b/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/WindowAnimator.java
index 03b5b827db746..aabf2bed1dd4c 100644
--- a/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/WindowAnimator.java
+++ b/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/WindowAnimator.java
@@ -108,7 +108,8 @@ public class WindowAnimator {
     }
 
     void addDisplayLocked(final int displayId) {
-        // Create the DisplayContentsAnimator object by retrieving it.
+        // Create the DisplayContentsAnimator object by retrieving it if the associated
+        // {@link DisplayContent} exists.
         getDisplayContentsAnimatorLocked(displayId);
         if (displayId == DEFAULT_DISPLAY) {
             mInitialized = true;
@@ -356,8 +357,16 @@ public class WindowAnimator {
     }
 
     private DisplayContentsAnimator getDisplayContentsAnimatorLocked(int displayId) {
+        if (displayId < 0) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
         DisplayContentsAnimator displayAnimator = mDisplayContentsAnimators.get(displayId);
-        if (displayAnimator == null) {
+
+        // It is possible that this underlying {@link DisplayContent} has been removed. In this
+        // case, we do not want to create an animator associated with it as {link #animate} will
+        // fail.
+        if (displayAnimator == null && mService.mRoot.getDisplayContent(displayId) != null) {
             displayAnimator = new DisplayContentsAnimator();
             mDisplayContentsAnimators.put(displayId, displayAnimator);
         }
@@ -365,8 +374,10 @@ public class WindowAnimator {
     }
 
     void setScreenRotationAnimationLocked(int displayId, ScreenRotationAnimation animation) {
-        if (displayId >= 0) {
-            getDisplayContentsAnimatorLocked(displayId).mScreenRotationAnimation = animation;
+        final DisplayContentsAnimator animator = getDisplayContentsAnimatorLocked(displayId);
+
+        if (animator != null) {
+            animator.mScreenRotationAnimation = animation;
         }
     }
 
@@ -374,7 +385,9 @@ public class WindowAnimator {
         if (displayId < 0) {
             return null;
         }
-        return getDisplayContentsAnimatorLocked(displayId).mScreenRotationAnimation;
+
+        DisplayContentsAnimator animator = getDisplayContentsAnimatorLocked(displayId);
+        return animator != null? animator.mScreenRotationAnimation : null;
     }
 
     void requestRemovalOfReplacedWindows(WindowState win) {
diff --git a/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/WindowManagerService.java b/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/WindowManagerService.java
index 12d6d4d0b92f4..93116a320ca3c 100644
--- a/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/WindowManagerService.java
+++ b/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/WindowManagerService.java
@@ -5916,8 +5916,8 @@ public class WindowManagerService extends IWindowManager.Stub
             return;
         }
 
-        if (!mDisplayReady || !mPolicy.isScreenOn()) {
-            // No need to freeze the screen before the system is ready or if
+        if (!displayContent.isReady() || !mPolicy.isScreenOn()) {
+            // No need to freeze the screen before the display is ready, system is ready, or if
             // the screen is off.
             return;
         }