diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/RecentsAnimationCallbacks.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/RecentsAnimationCallbacks.java
index 523a98ec4b..2256cbf14b 100644
--- a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/RecentsAnimationCallbacks.java
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/RecentsAnimationCallbacks.java
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
  */
 package com.android.quickstep;
 
+import static android.view.RemoteAnimationTarget.MODE_CLOSING;
 import static android.view.WindowManager.LayoutParams.TYPE_DOCK_DIVIDER;
 
 import static com.android.launcher3.util.Executors.MAIN_EXECUTOR;
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ import com.android.systemui.shared.recents.model.ThumbnailData;
 import com.android.systemui.shared.system.RecentsAnimationControllerCompat;
 
 import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.Arrays;
 import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.Set;
 
@@ -101,9 +103,22 @@ public class RecentsAnimationCallbacks implements
             RemoteAnimationTarget[] appTargets,
             RemoteAnimationTarget[] wallpaperTargets,
             Rect homeContentInsets, Rect minimizedHomeBounds) {
+        long appCount = Arrays.stream(appTargets)
+                .filter(app -> app.mode == MODE_CLOSING)
+                .count();
+        if (appCount == 0) {
+            // Edge case, if there are no closing app targets, then Launcher has nothing to handle
+            ActiveGestureLog.INSTANCE.addLog(
+                    /* event= */ "RecentsAnimationCallbacks.onAnimationStart (canceled)",
+                    /* extras= */ 0,
+                    /* gestureEvent= */ START_RECENTS_ANIMATION);
+            notifyAnimationCanceled();
+            animationController.finish(false /* toHome */, false /* sendUserLeaveHint */);
+            return;
+        }
+
         mController = new RecentsAnimationController(animationController,
                 mAllowMinimizeSplitScreen, this::onAnimationFinished);
-
         if (mCancelled) {
             Utilities.postAsyncCallback(MAIN_EXECUTOR.getHandler(),
                     mController::finishAnimationToApp);