diff --git a/src/com/android/launcher3/model/WorkspaceItemProcessor.kt b/src/com/android/launcher3/model/WorkspaceItemProcessor.kt
index 1093753bdb..fd38af3a40 100644
--- a/src/com/android/launcher3/model/WorkspaceItemProcessor.kt
+++ b/src/com/android/launcher3/model/WorkspaceItemProcessor.kt
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ import com.android.launcher3.LauncherAppState
 import com.android.launcher3.LauncherSettings.Favorites
 import com.android.launcher3.Utilities
 import com.android.launcher3.backuprestore.LauncherRestoreEventLogger.RestoreError
+import com.android.launcher3.config.FeatureFlags
 import com.android.launcher3.logging.FileLog
 import com.android.launcher3.model.data.AppPairInfo
 import com.android.launcher3.model.data.FolderInfo
@@ -373,6 +374,12 @@ class WorkspaceItemProcessor(
         // If we generated a placeholder Folder before this point, it may need to be replaced with
         // an app pair.
         if (c.itemType == Favorites.ITEM_TYPE_APP_PAIR && collection is FolderInfo) {
+            if (!FeatureFlags.enableAppPairs()) {
+                // If app pairs are not enabled, stop loading.
+                Log.e(TAG, "app pairs flag is off, did not load app pair")
+                return
+            }
+
             val folderInfo: FolderInfo = collection
             val newAppPair = AppPairInfo()
             // Move the placeholder's contents over to the new app pair.