diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/util/Utils.java b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/util/Utils.java
index 5b5dca30620a6..d54de3fa9a3f6 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/util/Utils.java
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/util/Utils.java
@@ -21,9 +21,7 @@ import android.content.Context;
 import android.content.Intent;
 import android.content.pm.PackageManager;
 import android.content.res.Resources;
-import android.content.res.TypedArray;
 import android.provider.Settings;
-import android.view.ContextThemeWrapper;
 import android.view.DisplayCutout;
 
 import com.android.internal.policy.SystemBarUtils;
@@ -35,6 +33,8 @@ import java.util.function.Consumer;
 
 public class Utils {
 
+    private static Boolean sUseQsMediaPlayer = null;
+
     /**
      * Allows lambda iteration over a list. It is done in reverse order so it is safe
      * to add or remove items during the iteration.  Skips over null items.
@@ -81,9 +81,16 @@ public class Utils {
      * Off by default, but can be disabled by setting to 0
      */
     public static boolean useQsMediaPlayer(Context context) {
-        int flag = Settings.Global.getInt(context.getContentResolver(),
-                Settings.Global.SHOW_MEDIA_ON_QUICK_SETTINGS, 1);
-        return flag > 0;
+        // TODO(b/192412820): Replace SHOW_MEDIA_ON_QUICK_SETTINGS with compile-time value
+        // Settings.Global.SHOW_MEDIA_ON_QUICK_SETTINGS can't be toggled at runtime, so simply
+        // cache the first result we fetch and use that going forward. Do this to avoid unnecessary
+        // binder calls which may happen on the critical path.
+        if (sUseQsMediaPlayer == null) {
+            int flag = Settings.Global.getInt(context.getContentResolver(),
+                    Settings.Global.SHOW_MEDIA_ON_QUICK_SETTINGS, 1);
+            sUseQsMediaPlayer = flag > 0;
+        }
+        return sUseQsMediaPlayer;
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/notification/NotificationSectionsFeatureManagerTest.kt b/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/notification/NotificationSectionsFeatureManagerTest.kt
index 540d2918319fa..1cce3b5b9e776 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/notification/NotificationSectionsFeatureManagerTest.kt
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/tests/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/notification/NotificationSectionsFeatureManagerTest.kt
@@ -21,10 +21,13 @@ import android.provider.Settings
 import android.testing.AndroidTestingRunner
 
 import androidx.test.filters.SmallTest
+import com.android.dx.mockito.inline.extended.ExtendedMockito
 
 import com.android.internal.config.sysui.SystemUiDeviceConfigFlags.NOTIFICATIONS_USE_PEOPLE_FILTERING
 import com.android.systemui.SysuiTestCase
 import com.android.systemui.util.DeviceConfigProxyFake
+import com.android.systemui.util.Utils
+import com.android.systemui.util.mockito.any
 
 import org.junit.After
 import org.junit.Assert.assertFalse
@@ -32,28 +35,33 @@ import org.junit.Assert.assertTrue
 import org.junit.Before
 import org.junit.Test
 import org.junit.runner.RunWith
+import org.mockito.Mockito.`when`
+import org.mockito.MockitoSession
+import org.mockito.quality.Strictness
 
 @RunWith(AndroidTestingRunner::class)
 @SmallTest
 class NotificationSectionsFeatureManagerTest : SysuiTestCase() {
     var manager: NotificationSectionsFeatureManager? = null
     val proxyFake = DeviceConfigProxyFake()
-    var originalQsMediaPlayer: Int = 0
+    private lateinit var staticMockSession: MockitoSession
 
     @Before
     public fun setup() {
         manager = NotificationSectionsFeatureManager(proxyFake, mContext)
         manager!!.clearCache()
-        originalQsMediaPlayer = Settings.Global.getInt(context.getContentResolver(),
-                Settings.Global.SHOW_MEDIA_ON_QUICK_SETTINGS, 1)
+        staticMockSession = ExtendedMockito.mockitoSession()
+            .mockStatic<Utils>(Utils::class.java)
+            .strictness(Strictness.LENIENT)
+            .startMocking()
+        `when`(Utils.useQsMediaPlayer(any())).thenReturn(false)
         Settings.Global.putInt(context.getContentResolver(),
                 Settings.Global.SHOW_MEDIA_ON_QUICK_SETTINGS, 0)
     }
 
     @After
     public fun teardown() {
-        Settings.Global.putInt(context.getContentResolver(),
-                Settings.Global.SHOW_MEDIA_ON_QUICK_SETTINGS, originalQsMediaPlayer)
+        staticMockSession.finishMocking()
     }
 
     @Test