diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/FallbackSwipeHandler.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/FallbackSwipeHandler.java
index d4bebea55f..1913091695 100644
--- a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/FallbackSwipeHandler.java
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/FallbackSwipeHandler.java
@@ -108,7 +108,8 @@ public class FallbackSwipeHandler extends
         super(context, deviceState, taskAnimationManager, gestureState, touchTimeMs,
                 continuingLastGesture, inputConsumer);
 
-        mRunningOverHome = mGestureState.getRunningTask().isHomeTask();
+        mRunningOverHome = mGestureState.getRunningTask() != null
+                && mGestureState.getRunningTask().isHomeTask();
         if (mRunningOverHome) {
             runActionOnRemoteHandles(remoteTargetHandle ->
                     remoteTargetHandle.getTransformParams().setHomeBuilderProxy(