diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/AbsSwipeUpHandler.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/AbsSwipeUpHandler.java
index 928910d3ab..f5202b7ebe 100644
--- a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/AbsSwipeUpHandler.java
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/AbsSwipeUpHandler.java
@@ -2260,6 +2260,7 @@ public abstract class AbsSwipeUpHandler<T extends StatefulActivity<S>,
                                         targetCompat.taskId == mGestureState.getLastStartedTaskId())
                                 .findFirst();
                 if (!taskTargetOptional.isPresent()) {
+                    ActiveGestureLog.INSTANCE.addLog("No appeared task matching started task id");
                     finishRecentsAnimationOnTasksAppeared(null /* onFinishComplete */);
                     return;
                 }
@@ -2267,6 +2268,7 @@ public abstract class AbsSwipeUpHandler<T extends StatefulActivity<S>,
                 TaskView taskView = mRecentsView == null
                         ? null : mRecentsView.getTaskViewByTaskId(taskTarget.taskId);
                 if (taskView == null || !taskView.getThumbnail().shouldShowSplashView()) {
+                    ActiveGestureLog.INSTANCE.addLog("Invalid task view splash state");
                     finishRecentsAnimationOnTasksAppeared(null /* onFinishComplete */);
                     return;
                 }
diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/TaskAnimationManager.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/TaskAnimationManager.java
index 4c4b9b4095..410ba21866 100644
--- a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/TaskAnimationManager.java
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/TaskAnimationManager.java
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import static android.app.WindowConfiguration.ACTIVITY_TYPE_HOME;
 
 import static com.android.launcher3.util.Executors.MAIN_EXECUTOR;
 import static com.android.launcher3.util.Executors.UI_HELPER_EXECUTOR;
+import static com.android.quickstep.GestureState.GestureEndTarget.RECENTS;
 import static com.android.quickstep.GestureState.STATE_RECENTS_ANIMATION_INITIALIZED;
 import static com.android.quickstep.GestureState.STATE_RECENTS_ANIMATION_STARTED;
 import static com.android.quickstep.util.ActiveGestureErrorDetector.GestureEvent.START_RECENTS_ANIMATION;
@@ -174,16 +175,21 @@ public class TaskAnimationManager implements RecentsAnimationCallbacks.RecentsAn
                 if (nonAppTargets == null) {
                     nonAppTargets = new RemoteAnimationTarget[0];
                 }
-                if (activityInterface.isInLiveTileMode()
+                if ((activityInterface.isInLiveTileMode()
+                            || mLastGestureState.getEndTarget() == RECENTS)
                         && activityInterface.getCreatedActivity() != null) {
                     RecentsView recentsView =
                             activityInterface.getCreatedActivity().getOverviewPanel();
                     if (recentsView != null) {
+                        ActiveGestureLog.INSTANCE.addLog("Launching side task id="
+                                + appearedTaskTarget.taskId);
                         recentsView.launchSideTaskInLiveTileMode(appearedTaskTarget.taskId,
                                 appearedTaskTargets,
                                 new RemoteAnimationTarget[0] /* wallpaper */,
                                 nonAppTargets /* nonApps */);
                         return;
+                    } else {
+                        ActiveGestureLog.INSTANCE.addLog("Unable to launch side task (no recents)");
                     }
                 } else if (nonAppTargets.length > 0) {
                     TaskViewUtils.createSplitAuxiliarySurfacesAnimator(nonAppTargets /* nonApps */,