diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherAnimationRunner.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherAnimationRunner.java
index c9853545f2..7d62f5292e 100644
--- a/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherAnimationRunner.java
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherAnimationRunner.java
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 package com.android.launcher3;
 
 import static com.android.launcher3.Utilities.postAsyncCallback;
+import static com.android.systemui.shared.recents.utilities.Utilities.postAtFrontOfQueueAsynchronously;
 
 import android.animation.Animator;
 import android.animation.AnimatorListenerAdapter;
@@ -35,20 +36,31 @@ public abstract class LauncherAnimationRunner implements RemoteAnimationRunnerCo
     private static final int REFRESH_RATE_MS = 16;
 
     private final Handler mHandler;
+    private final boolean mStartAtFrontOfQueue;
     private AnimationResult mAnimationResult;
 
-    public LauncherAnimationRunner(Handler handler) {
+    /**
+     * @param startAtFrontOfQueue If true, the animation start will be posted at the front of the
+     *                            queue to minimize latency.
+     */
+    public LauncherAnimationRunner(Handler handler, boolean startAtFrontOfQueue) {
         mHandler = handler;
+        mStartAtFrontOfQueue = startAtFrontOfQueue;
     }
 
     @BinderThread
     @Override
     public void onAnimationStart(RemoteAnimationTargetCompat[] targetCompats, Runnable runnable) {
-        postAsyncCallback(mHandler, () -> {
+        Runnable r = () -> {
             finishExistingAnimation();
             mAnimationResult = new AnimationResult(runnable);
             onCreateAnimation(targetCompats, mAnimationResult);
-        });
+        };
+        if (mStartAtFrontOfQueue) {
+            postAtFrontOfQueueAsynchronously(mHandler, r);
+        } else {
+            postAsyncCallback(mHandler, r);
+        }
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherAppTransitionManagerImpl.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherAppTransitionManagerImpl.java
index 353ed84609..ab350e49ca 100644
--- a/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherAppTransitionManagerImpl.java
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherAppTransitionManagerImpl.java
@@ -162,7 +162,8 @@ public class LauncherAppTransitionManagerImpl extends LauncherAppTransitionManag
     @Override
     public ActivityOptions getActivityLaunchOptions(Launcher launcher, View v) {
         if (hasControlRemoteAppTransitionPermission()) {
-            RemoteAnimationRunnerCompat runner = new LauncherAnimationRunner(mHandler) {
+            RemoteAnimationRunnerCompat runner = new LauncherAnimationRunner(mHandler,
+                    true /* startAtFrontOfQueue */) {
 
                 @Override
                 public void onCreateAnimation(RemoteAnimationTargetCompat[] targetCompats,
@@ -572,7 +573,7 @@ public class LauncherAppTransitionManagerImpl extends LauncherAppTransitionManag
      *         ie. pressing home, swiping up from nav bar.
      */
     private RemoteAnimationRunnerCompat getWallpaperOpenRunner() {
-        return new LauncherAnimationRunner(mHandler) {
+        return new LauncherAnimationRunner(mHandler, false /* startAtFrontOfQueue */) {
             @Override
             public void onCreateAnimation(RemoteAnimationTargetCompat[] targetCompats,
                     AnimationResult result) {
diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/RecentsActivity.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/RecentsActivity.java
index 3c47eecdc1..31bead1c72 100644
--- a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/RecentsActivity.java
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/RecentsActivity.java
@@ -172,7 +172,8 @@ public class RecentsActivity extends BaseDraggingActivity {
         }
 
         final TaskView taskView = (TaskView) v;
-        RemoteAnimationRunnerCompat runner = new LauncherAnimationRunner(mUiHandler) {
+        RemoteAnimationRunnerCompat runner = new LauncherAnimationRunner(mUiHandler,
+                true /* startAtFrontOfQueue */) {
 
             @Override
             public void onCreateAnimation(RemoteAnimationTargetCompat[] targetCompats,
diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/util/RemoteAnimationProvider.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/util/RemoteAnimationProvider.java
index 7ee16c1a46..dfe1984b2d 100644
--- a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/util/RemoteAnimationProvider.java
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/util/RemoteAnimationProvider.java
@@ -31,7 +31,8 @@ public interface RemoteAnimationProvider {
     AnimatorSet createWindowAnimation(RemoteAnimationTargetCompat[] targets);
 
     default ActivityOptions toActivityOptions(Handler handler, long duration) {
-        LauncherAnimationRunner runner = new LauncherAnimationRunner(handler) {
+        LauncherAnimationRunner runner = new LauncherAnimationRunner(handler,
+                false /* startAtFrontOfQueue */) {
 
             @Override
             public void onCreateAnimation(RemoteAnimationTargetCompat[] targetCompats,