diff --git a/quickstep/recents_ui_overrides/src/com/android/quickstep/views/RecentsView.java b/quickstep/recents_ui_overrides/src/com/android/quickstep/views/RecentsView.java
index 955cf5a..fae0df0 100644
--- a/quickstep/recents_ui_overrides/src/com/android/quickstep/views/RecentsView.java
+++ b/quickstep/recents_ui_overrides/src/com/android/quickstep/views/RecentsView.java
@@ -638,7 +638,7 @@
             case MotionEvent.ACTION_DOWN:
                 // Touch down anywhere but the deadzone around the visible clear all button and
                 // between the task views will start home on touch up
-                if (!isHandlingTouch()) {
+                if (!isHandlingTouch() && !isModal()) {
                     if (mShowEmptyMessage) {
                         mTouchDownToStartHome = true;
                     } else {
@@ -666,7 +666,7 @@
     @Override
     protected void determineScrollingStart(MotionEvent ev, float touchSlopScale) {
         // Enables swiping to the left or right only if the task overlay is not modal.
-        if (mTaskModalness == 0f) {
+        if (!isModal()) {
             super.determineScrollingStart(ev, touchSlopScale);
         }
     }
@@ -737,6 +737,10 @@
         updateEnabledOverlays();
     }
 
+    private boolean isModal() {
+        return mTaskModalness > 0;
+    }
+
     private void removeTasksViewsAndClearAllButton() {
         for (int i = getTaskViewCount() - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
             removeView(getTaskViewAt(i));