diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/SystemUiProxy.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/SystemUiProxy.java
index 5da41ae110..1dc777d8cd 100644
--- a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/SystemUiProxy.java
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/SystemUiProxy.java
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import static android.app.ActivityManager.RECENT_IGNORE_UNAVAILABLE;
 
 import static com.android.launcher3.util.Executors.MAIN_EXECUTOR;
 import static com.android.launcher3.util.Executors.UI_HELPER_EXECUTOR;
+import static com.android.quickstep.util.ActiveGestureErrorDetector.GestureEvent.RECENT_TASKS_MISSING;
 import static com.android.quickstep.util.LogUtils.splitFailureMessage;
 
 import android.app.ActivityManager;
@@ -63,6 +64,7 @@ import com.android.internal.view.AppearanceRegion;
 import com.android.launcher3.util.MainThreadInitializedObject;
 import com.android.launcher3.util.Preconditions;
 import com.android.launcher3.util.SplitConfigurationOptions;
+import com.android.quickstep.util.ActiveGestureLog;
 import com.android.quickstep.util.AssistUtils;
 import com.android.systemui.shared.recents.ISystemUiProxy;
 import com.android.systemui.shared.recents.model.ThumbnailData;
@@ -1372,6 +1374,7 @@ public class SystemUiProxy implements ISystemUiProxy {
     public boolean startRecentsActivity(Intent intent, ActivityOptions options,
             RecentsAnimationListener listener) {
         if (mRecentTasks == null) {
+            ActiveGestureLog.INSTANCE.trackEvent(RECENT_TASKS_MISSING);
             return false;
         }
         final IRecentsAnimationRunner runner = new IRecentsAnimationRunner.Stub() {
diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/util/ActiveGestureErrorDetector.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/util/ActiveGestureErrorDetector.java
index 8335523758..3c08f21c43 100644
--- a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/util/ActiveGestureErrorDetector.java
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/util/ActiveGestureErrorDetector.java
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ public class ActiveGestureErrorDetector {
         START_RECENTS_ANIMATION, FINISH_RECENTS_ANIMATION, CANCEL_RECENTS_ANIMATION,
         SET_ON_PAGE_TRANSITION_END_CALLBACK, CANCEL_CURRENT_ANIMATION, CLEANUP_SCREENSHOT,
         SCROLLER_ANIMATION_ABORTED, TASK_APPEARED, EXPECTING_TASK_APPEARED,
-        FLAG_USING_OTHER_ACTIVITY_INPUT_CONSUMER, LAUNCHER_DESTROYED,
+        FLAG_USING_OTHER_ACTIVITY_INPUT_CONSUMER, LAUNCHER_DESTROYED, RECENT_TASKS_MISSING,
 
         /**
          * These GestureEvents are specifically associated to state flags that get set in
@@ -218,6 +218,14 @@ public class ActiveGestureErrorDetector {
                                     + "set before/without startRecentsAnimation.",
                             writer);
                     break;
+                case RECENT_TASKS_MISSING:
+                    errorDetected |= printErrorIfTrue(
+                            true,
+                            prefix,
+                            /* errorMessage= */ "SystemUiProxy.mRecentTasks missing,"
+                                    + " couldn't start the recents activity",
+                            writer);
+                    break;
                 case MOTION_DOWN:
                 case SET_END_TARGET:
                 case SET_END_TARGET_HOME: