diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/taskbar/bubbles/BubbleBarViewController.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/taskbar/bubbles/BubbleBarViewController.java
index f614dc66ea..45a9fa16e3 100644
--- a/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/taskbar/bubbles/BubbleBarViewController.java
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/taskbar/bubbles/BubbleBarViewController.java
@@ -98,7 +98,6 @@ public class BubbleBarViewController {
         mBarView = barView;
         mSystemUiProxy = SystemUiProxy.INSTANCE.get(mActivity);
         mBubbleBarAlpha = new MultiValueAlpha(mBarView, 1 /* num alpha channels */);
-        mBubbleBarAlpha.setUpdateVisibility(true);
         mIconSize = activity.getResources().getDimensionPixelSize(
                 R.dimen.bubblebar_icon_size);
     }
@@ -408,7 +407,19 @@ public class BubbleBarViewController {
             b.getView().setOnClickListener(mBubbleClickListener);
             mBubbleDragController.setupBubbleView(b.getView());
 
+            if (b instanceof BubbleBarOverflow) {
+                return;
+            }
+
             if (suppressAnimation || !(b instanceof BubbleBarBubble bubble)) {
+                // the bubble bar and handle are initialized as part of the first bubble animation.
+                // if the animation is suppressed, immediately stash or show the bubble bar to
+                // ensure they've been initialized.
+                if (mTaskbarStashController.isInApp()) {
+                    mBubbleStashController.stashBubbleBarImmediate();
+                } else {
+                    mBubbleStashController.showBubbleBarImmediate();
+                }
                 return;
             }
             animateBubbleNotification(bubble, isExpanding);
diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/taskbar/bubbles/BubbleStashController.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/taskbar/bubbles/BubbleStashController.java
index 5d01b9bd08..74ddf90afc 100644
--- a/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/taskbar/bubbles/BubbleStashController.java
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/taskbar/bubbles/BubbleStashController.java
@@ -418,6 +418,7 @@ public class BubbleStashController {
     /** Stashes the bubble bar immediately without animation. */
     public void stashBubbleBarImmediate() {
         mHandleViewController.setTranslationYForSwipe(0);
+        mBubbleStashedHandleAlpha.setValue(1);
         mIconAlphaForStash.setValue(0);
         mIconTranslationYForStash.updateValue(getStashTranslation());
         mIconScaleForStash.updateValue(STASHED_BAR_SCALE);