diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/RecentsModel.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/RecentsModel.java
index 70b0355b09..7676a70eda 100644
--- a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/RecentsModel.java
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/RecentsModel.java
@@ -87,7 +87,8 @@ public class RecentsModel extends TaskStackChangeListener {
     private int mTaskChangeId;
     private ISystemUiProxy mSystemUiProxy;
     private boolean mClearAssistCacheOnStackChange = true;
-    private final boolean mPreloadTasksInBackground;
+    private final boolean mIsLowRamDevice;
+    private boolean mPreloadTasksInBackground;
     private final AccessibilityManager mAccessibilityManager;
 
     private RecentsModel(Context context) {
@@ -95,7 +96,7 @@ public class RecentsModel extends TaskStackChangeListener {
 
         ActivityManager activityManager =
                 (ActivityManager) context.getSystemService(Context.ACTIVITY_SERVICE);
-        mPreloadTasksInBackground = !activityManager.isLowRamDevice();
+        mIsLowRamDevice = activityManager.isLowRamDevice();
         mMainThreadExecutor = new MainThreadExecutor();
 
         Resources res = context.getResources();
@@ -160,6 +161,10 @@ public class RecentsModel extends TaskStackChangeListener {
         return requestId;
     }
 
+    public void setPreloadTasksInBackground(boolean preloadTasksInBackground) {
+        mPreloadTasksInBackground = preloadTasksInBackground && !mIsLowRamDevice;
+    }
+
     @Override
     public void onActivityPinned(String packageName, int userId, int taskId, int stackId) {
         mTaskChangeId++;
diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/TouchInteractionService.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/TouchInteractionService.java
index 57f46b87ac..b89a835617 100644
--- a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/TouchInteractionService.java
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/TouchInteractionService.java
@@ -173,6 +173,7 @@ public class TouchInteractionService extends Service {
         super.onCreate();
         mAM = ActivityManagerWrapper.getInstance();
         mRecentsModel = RecentsModel.getInstance(this);
+        mRecentsModel.setPreloadTasksInBackground(true);
         mMainThreadExecutor = new MainThreadExecutor();
         mOverviewCommandHelper = new OverviewCommandHelper(this);
         mMainThreadChoreographer = Choreographer.getInstance();