diff --git a/core/java/android/window/ScreenCapture.java b/core/java/android/window/ScreenCapture.java
index d8e64d48f456d..95451a9660550 100644
--- a/core/java/android/window/ScreenCapture.java
+++ b/core/java/android/window/ScreenCapture.java
@@ -309,7 +309,7 @@ public class ScreenCapture {
 
         /** Release any layers if set using {@link Builder#setExcludeLayers(SurfaceControl[])}. */
         public void release() {
-            if (mExcludeLayers.length == 0) {
+            if (mExcludeLayers == null || mExcludeLayers.length == 0) {
                 return;
             }