diff --git a/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/ActivityStarter.java b/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/ActivityStarter.java
index c1e1a39dd09bf..5f264e70ab1e2 100644
--- a/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/ActivityStarter.java
+++ b/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/ActivityStarter.java
@@ -2451,6 +2451,11 @@ class ActivityStarter {
             }
         }
 
+        if ((mLaunchFlags & FLAG_ACTIVITY_LAUNCH_ADJACENT) != 0 && mSourceRecord == null) {
+            // ignore the flag if there is no the sourceRecord
+            mLaunchFlags &= ~FLAG_ACTIVITY_LAUNCH_ADJACENT;
+        }
+
         // We'll invoke onUserLeaving before onPause only if the launching
         // activity did not explicitly state that this is an automated launch.
         mSupervisor.mUserLeaving = (mLaunchFlags & FLAG_ACTIVITY_NO_USER_ACTION) == 0;
diff --git a/services/tests/wmtests/src/com/android/server/wm/ActivityStarterTests.java b/services/tests/wmtests/src/com/android/server/wm/ActivityStarterTests.java
index b9432753c17fb..ff0f06126ac79 100644
--- a/services/tests/wmtests/src/com/android/server/wm/ActivityStarterTests.java
+++ b/services/tests/wmtests/src/com/android/server/wm/ActivityStarterTests.java
@@ -1120,28 +1120,27 @@ public class ActivityStarterTests extends WindowTestsBase {
     }
 
     @Test
-    public void testTargetStackInSplitScreen() {
+    public void testTargetTaskInSplitScreen() {
         final ActivityStarter starter =
                 prepareStarter(FLAG_ACTIVITY_LAUNCH_ADJACENT, false /* mockGetRootTask */);
         final ActivityRecord top = new ActivityBuilder(mAtm).setCreateTask(true).build();
         final ActivityOptions options = ActivityOptions.makeBasic();
         final ActivityRecord[] outActivity = new ActivityRecord[1];
 
-        // Activity must not land on split-screen stack if currently not in split-screen mode.
+        // Activity must not land on split-screen task if currently not in split-screen mode.
         starter.setActivityOptions(options.toBundle())
-                .setReason("testWindowingModeOptionsLaunchAdjacent")
+                .setReason("testTargetTaskInSplitScreen")
                 .setOutActivity(outActivity).execute();
         assertThat(outActivity[0].inMultiWindowMode()).isFalse();
 
-        // Move activity to split-screen-primary stack and make sure it has the focus.
+        // Move activity to split-screen-primary task and make sure it has the focus.
         TestSplitOrganizer splitOrg = new TestSplitOrganizer(mAtm, top.getDisplayContent());
         top.getRootTask().reparent(splitOrg.mPrimary, POSITION_BOTTOM);
-        top.getRootTask().moveToFront("testWindowingModeOptionsLaunchAdjacent");
+        top.getRootTask().moveToFront("testTargetTaskInSplitScreen");
 
-        // Activity must landed on split-screen-secondary when launch adjacent.
-        starter.setActivityOptions(options.toBundle())
-                .setReason("testWindowingModeOptionsLaunchAdjacent")
-                .setOutActivity(outActivity).execute();
+        // Activity must land on split-screen-secondary when launch adjacent.
+        startActivityInner(starter, outActivity[0], top, options, null /* inTask */,
+                null /* taskFragment*/);
         assertThat(outActivity[0].inMultiWindowMode()).isTrue();
     }