diff --git a/core/api/test-current.txt b/core/api/test-current.txt
index fd6d47e56b520..e8f8f3a1c29d7 100644
--- a/core/api/test-current.txt
+++ b/core/api/test-current.txt
@@ -1683,6 +1683,7 @@ package android.telephony {
   public class TelephonyManager {
     method public int addDevicePolicyOverrideApn(@NonNull android.content.Context, @NonNull android.telephony.data.ApnSetting);
     method public int getCarrierIdListVersion();
+    method @NonNull @RequiresPermission(android.Manifest.permission.READ_PRIVILEGED_PHONE_STATE) public java.util.List<java.lang.String> getCertsFromCarrierPrivilegeAccessRules();
     method @NonNull public java.util.List<android.telephony.data.ApnSetting> getDevicePolicyOverrideApns(@NonNull android.content.Context);
     method @RequiresPermission(android.Manifest.permission.READ_PHONE_STATE) public String getLine1AlphaTag();
     method public android.util.Pair<java.lang.Integer,java.lang.Integer> getRadioHalVersion();
diff --git a/telephony/java/android/telephony/TelephonyManager.java b/telephony/java/android/telephony/TelephonyManager.java
index 1cfb1d43eacce..ae6a3e8469506 100644
--- a/telephony/java/android/telephony/TelephonyManager.java
+++ b/telephony/java/android/telephony/TelephonyManager.java
@@ -11205,26 +11205,26 @@ public class TelephonyManager {
     }
 
     /**
-     * Return a list of certs in hex string from loaded carrier privileges access rules.
+     * Return a list of certs as hex strings from loaded carrier privileges access rules.
      *
-     * @return a list of certificate in hex string. return {@code null} if there is no certs
-     * or privilege rules are not loaded yet.
-     *
-     * <p>Requires Permission:
-     * {@link android.Manifest.permission#READ_PRIVILEGED_PHONE_STATE}
+     * @return a list of certificates as hex strings, or an empty list if there are no certs or
+     *     privilege rules are not loaded yet.
      * @hide
      */
+    @TestApi
     @RequiresPermission(android.Manifest.permission.READ_PRIVILEGED_PHONE_STATE)
+    @NonNull
     public List<String> getCertsFromCarrierPrivilegeAccessRules() {
+        List<String> certs = null;
         try {
             ITelephony service = getITelephony();
             if (service != null) {
-                return service.getCertsFromCarrierPrivilegeAccessRules(getSubId());
+                certs = service.getCertsFromCarrierPrivilegeAccessRules(getSubId());
             }
         } catch (RemoteException ex) {
             // This could happen if binder process crashes.
         }
-        return null;
+        return certs == null ? Collections.emptyList() : certs;
     }
 
     /**