diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/taskbar/TaskbarStashController.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/taskbar/TaskbarStashController.java
index 999db3ba96..a717136e6f 100644
--- a/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/taskbar/TaskbarStashController.java
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/taskbar/TaskbarStashController.java
@@ -35,8 +35,6 @@ import static com.android.systemui.shared.system.QuickStepContract.SYSUI_STATE_S
 import android.animation.Animator;
 import android.animation.AnimatorListenerAdapter;
 import android.animation.AnimatorSet;
-import android.animation.ValueAnimator;
-import android.annotation.Nullable;
 import android.content.SharedPreferences;
 import android.content.res.Resources;
 import android.util.Log;
@@ -45,6 +43,7 @@ import android.view.View;
 import android.view.ViewConfiguration;
 
 import androidx.annotation.NonNull;
+import androidx.annotation.Nullable;
 import androidx.annotation.VisibleForTesting;
 
 import com.android.internal.jank.InteractionJankMonitor;
@@ -697,15 +696,26 @@ public class TaskbarStashController implements TaskbarControllers.LoggableTaskba
     }
 
     public void applyState(long duration) {
-        createApplyStateAnimator(duration).start();
+        Animator animator = createApplyStateAnimator(duration);
+        if (animator != null) {
+            animator.start();
+        }
     }
 
     public void applyState(long duration, long startDelay) {
         Animator animator = createApplyStateAnimator(duration);
-        animator.setStartDelay(startDelay);
-        animator.start();
+        if (animator != null) {
+            animator.setStartDelay(startDelay);
+            animator.start();
+        }
     }
 
+
+    /**
+     * Returns an animator which applies the latest state if mIsStashed is changed, or {@code null}
+     * otherwise.
+     */
+    @Nullable
     public Animator createApplyStateAnimator(long duration) {
         return mStatePropertyHolder.createSetStateAnimator(mState, duration);
     }
@@ -946,9 +956,9 @@ public class TaskbarStashController implements TaskbarControllers.LoggableTaskba
          * creating a new animation (stored in mAnimator).
          * @param flags The latest flags to apply (see the top of this file).
          * @param duration The length of the animation.
-         * @return mAnimator if mIsStashed changed or an empty animator.
+         * @return mAnimator if mIsStashed changed, or {@code null} otherwise.
          */
-        @NonNull
+        @Nullable
         public Animator createSetStateAnimator(int flags, long duration) {
             int changedFlags = mPrevFlags ^ flags;
             if (mPrevFlags != flags) {
@@ -977,7 +987,7 @@ public class TaskbarStashController implements TaskbarControllers.LoggableTaskba
                 createAnimToIsStashed(mIsStashed, duration, /* animateBg= */ true, changedFlags);
                 return mAnimator;
             }
-            return ValueAnimator.ofFloat(0, 1).setDuration(duration);
+            return null;
         }
     }
 }