diff --git a/core/java/android/content/ContentResolver.java b/core/java/android/content/ContentResolver.java
index e446f4fa5eb4c..0a4627da223a7 100644
--- a/core/java/android/content/ContentResolver.java
+++ b/core/java/android/content/ContentResolver.java
@@ -686,6 +686,19 @@ public abstract class ContentResolver implements ContentInterface {
      */
     public static final int NOTIFY_DELETE = 1 << 4;
 
+    /**
+     * Flag for {@link #notifyChange(Uri, ContentObserver, int)}: typically set
+     * by a {@link ContentProvider} to indicate that this notification should
+     * not be subject to any delays when dispatching to apps running in the
+     * background.
+     * <p>
+     * Using this flag may negatively impact system health and performance, and
+     * should be used sparingly.
+     *
+     * @hide
+     */
+    public static final int NOTIFY_NO_DELAY = 1 << 15;
+
     /**
      * No exception, throttled by app standby normally.
      * @hide
diff --git a/services/core/java/com/android/server/content/ContentService.java b/services/core/java/com/android/server/content/ContentService.java
index 962f337a8b3f9..9a910bf5e859d 100644
--- a/services/core/java/com/android/server/content/ContentService.java
+++ b/services/core/java/com/android/server/content/ContentService.java
@@ -569,9 +569,10 @@ public final class ContentService extends IContentService.Stub {
                 // Immediately dispatch notifications to foreground apps that
                 // are important to the user; all other background observers are
                 // delayed to avoid stampeding
+                final boolean noDelay = (key.flags & ContentResolver.NOTIFY_NO_DELAY) != 0;
                 final int procState = LocalServices.getService(ActivityManagerInternal.class)
                         .getUidProcessState(key.uid);
-                if (procState <= ActivityManager.PROCESS_STATE_IMPORTANT_FOREGROUND) {
+                if (procState <= ActivityManager.PROCESS_STATE_IMPORTANT_FOREGROUND || noDelay) {
                     task.run();
                 } else {
                     BackgroundThread.getHandler().postDelayed(task, BACKGROUND_OBSERVER_DELAY);