diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/RecentTasksList.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/RecentTasksList.java
index 1c5dc4c..2f1538b 100644
--- a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/RecentTasksList.java
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/RecentTasksList.java
@@ -22,10 +22,12 @@
 import android.app.ActivityManager;
 import android.os.Build;
 import android.os.Process;
+import android.util.Log;
 import android.util.SparseBooleanArray;
 
 import androidx.annotation.VisibleForTesting;
 
+import com.android.launcher3.testing.TestProtocol;
 import com.android.launcher3.util.LooperExecutor;
 import com.android.systemui.shared.recents.model.Task;
 import com.android.systemui.shared.system.ActivityManagerWrapper;
@@ -51,6 +53,9 @@
 
     // The list change id, increments as the task list changes in the system
     private int mChangeId;
+    // Whether we are currently updating the tasks in the background (up to when the result is
+    // posted back on the main thread)
+    private boolean mLoadingTasksInBackground;
 
     private TaskLoadResult mResultsBg = INVALID_RESULT;
     private TaskLoadResult mResultsUi = INVALID_RESULT;
@@ -64,6 +69,11 @@
         mActivityManagerWrapper.registerTaskStackListener(this);
     }
 
+    @VisibleForTesting
+    public boolean isLoadingTasksInBackground() {
+        return mLoadingTasksInBackground;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Fetches the task keys skipping any local cache.
      */
@@ -83,6 +93,10 @@
      * @return The change id of the current task list
      */
     public synchronized int getTasks(boolean loadKeysOnly, Consumer<ArrayList<Task>> callback) {
+        if (TestProtocol.sDebugTracing) {
+            Log.d(TestProtocol.GET_RECENTS_FAILED, "getTasks: keysOnly=" + loadKeysOnly
+                    + " callback=" + callback);
+        }
         final int requestLoadId = mChangeId;
         if (mResultsUi.isValidForRequest(requestLoadId, loadKeysOnly)) {
             // The list is up to date, send the callback on the next frame,
@@ -90,22 +104,38 @@
             if (callback != null) {
                 // Copy synchronously as the changeId might change by next frame
                 ArrayList<Task> result = copyOf(mResultsUi);
-                mMainThreadExecutor.post(() -> callback.accept(result));
+                mMainThreadExecutor.post(() -> {
+                    if (TestProtocol.sDebugTracing) {
+                        Log.d(TestProtocol.GET_RECENTS_FAILED, "getTasks: no new tasks");
+                    }
+                    callback.accept(result);
+                });
             }
 
             return requestLoadId;
         }
 
         // Kick off task loading in the background
+        mLoadingTasksInBackground = true;
         UI_HELPER_EXECUTOR.execute(() -> {
+            if (TestProtocol.sDebugTracing) {
+                Log.d(TestProtocol.GET_RECENTS_FAILED, "getTasks: loading in bg start");
+            }
             if (!mResultsBg.isValidForRequest(requestLoadId, loadKeysOnly)) {
                 mResultsBg = loadTasksInBackground(Integer.MAX_VALUE, requestLoadId, loadKeysOnly);
             }
+            if (TestProtocol.sDebugTracing) {
+                Log.d(TestProtocol.GET_RECENTS_FAILED, "getTasks: loading in bg end");
+            }
             TaskLoadResult loadResult = mResultsBg;
             mMainThreadExecutor.execute(() -> {
+                mLoadingTasksInBackground = false;
                 mResultsUi = loadResult;
                 if (callback != null) {
                     ArrayList<Task> result = copyOf(mResultsUi);
+                    if (TestProtocol.sDebugTracing) {
+                        Log.d(TestProtocol.GET_RECENTS_FAILED, "getTasks: callback w/ bg results");
+                    }
                     callback.accept(result);
                 }
             });
diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/RecentsModel.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/RecentsModel.java
index d47217b..ba24e6a 100644
--- a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/RecentsModel.java
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/RecentsModel.java
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@
 import android.os.Process;
 import android.os.UserHandle;
 
+import androidx.annotation.VisibleForTesting;
+
 import com.android.launcher3.icons.IconProvider;
 import com.android.launcher3.util.Executors.SimpleThreadFactory;
 import com.android.launcher3.util.MainThreadInitializedObject;
@@ -102,6 +104,14 @@
     }
 
     /**
+     * @return Whether the task list is currently updating in the background
+     */
+    @VisibleForTesting
+    public boolean isLoadingTasksInBackground() {
+        return mTaskList.isLoadingTasksInBackground();
+    }
+
+    /**
      * Finds and returns the task key associated with the given task id.
      *
      * @param callback The callback to receive the task key if it is found or null. This is always
diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/fallback/FallbackRecentsView.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/fallback/FallbackRecentsView.java
index 8f2356c..13f6137 100644
--- a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/fallback/FallbackRecentsView.java
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/fallback/FallbackRecentsView.java
@@ -24,9 +24,11 @@
 import android.content.Context;
 import android.os.Build;
 import android.util.AttributeSet;
+import android.util.Log;
 
 import com.android.launcher3.anim.PendingAnimation;
 import com.android.launcher3.statemanager.StateManager.StateListener;
+import com.android.launcher3.testing.TestProtocol;
 import com.android.quickstep.FallbackActivityInterface;
 import com.android.quickstep.GestureState;
 import com.android.quickstep.RecentsActivity;
@@ -120,6 +122,10 @@
         // as well. This tile is never shown as we have setCurrentTaskHidden, but allows use to
         // track the index of the next task appropriately, as if we are switching on any other app.
         if (mHomeTaskInfo != null && mHomeTaskInfo.taskId == mRunningTaskId && !tasks.isEmpty()) {
+            if (TestProtocol.sDebugTracing) {
+                Log.d(TestProtocol.GET_RECENTS_FAILED,
+                        "FallbackRecentsView.applyLoadPlan: running task is home");
+            }
             // Check if the task list has running task
             boolean found = false;
             for (Task t : tasks) {
diff --git a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/views/RecentsView.java b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/views/RecentsView.java
index 1599b9e..fd57e91 100644
--- a/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/views/RecentsView.java
+++ b/quickstep/src/com/android/quickstep/views/RecentsView.java
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@
 import android.text.TextPaint;
 import android.util.AttributeSet;
 import android.util.FloatProperty;
+import android.util.Log;
 import android.util.SparseBooleanArray;
 import android.view.HapticFeedbackConstants;
 import android.view.KeyEvent;
@@ -104,6 +105,7 @@
 import com.android.launcher3.config.FeatureFlags;
 import com.android.launcher3.statehandlers.DepthController;
 import com.android.launcher3.statemanager.StatefulActivity;
+import com.android.launcher3.testing.TestProtocol;
 import com.android.launcher3.touch.PagedOrientationHandler;
 import com.android.launcher3.touch.PagedOrientationHandler.CurveProperties;
 import com.android.launcher3.util.DynamicResource;
@@ -823,6 +825,12 @@
     }
 
     protected void applyLoadPlan(ArrayList<Task> tasks) {
+        if (TestProtocol.sDebugTracing) {
+            Log.d(TestProtocol.GET_RECENTS_FAILED, "applyLoadPlan: taskCount=" + tasks.size());
+            for (Task t : tasks) {
+                Log.d(TestProtocol.GET_RECENTS_FAILED, "\t" + t);
+            }
+        }
         if (mPendingAnimation != null) {
             mPendingAnimation.addEndListener(success -> applyLoadPlan(tasks));
             return;
@@ -884,12 +892,21 @@
         resetTaskVisuals();
         onTaskStackUpdated();
         updateEnabledOverlays();
+
+        if (TestProtocol.sDebugTracing) {
+            Log.d(TestProtocol.GET_RECENTS_FAILED, "applyLoadPlan: taskViewCount="
+                    + getTaskViewCount());
+        }
     }
 
     private boolean isModal() {
         return mTaskModalness > 0;
     }
 
+    public boolean isLoadingTasks() {
+        return mModel.isLoadingTasksInBackground();
+    }
+
     private void removeTasksViewsAndClearAllButton() {
         for (int i = getTaskViewCount() - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
             removeView(getTaskViewAt(i));
@@ -900,6 +917,12 @@
     }
 
     public int getTaskViewCount() {
+        if (TestProtocol.sDebugTracing) {
+            Log.d(TestProtocol.GET_RECENTS_FAILED, "getTaskViewCount:"
+                    + " numChildren=" + getChildCount()
+                    + " start=" + mTaskViewStartIndex
+                    + " clearAll=" + indexOfChild(mClearAllButton));
+        }
         int taskViewCount = getChildCount() - mTaskViewStartIndex;
         if (indexOfChild(mClearAllButton) != -1) {
             taskViewCount--;
diff --git a/quickstep/tests/src/com/android/quickstep/FallbackRecentsTest.java b/quickstep/tests/src/com/android/quickstep/FallbackRecentsTest.java
index 2e7e6e0..713fd07 100644
--- a/quickstep/tests/src/com/android/quickstep/FallbackRecentsTest.java
+++ b/quickstep/tests/src/com/android/quickstep/FallbackRecentsTest.java
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
 import android.content.Intent;
 import android.content.pm.ActivityInfo;
 import android.os.RemoteException;
+import android.util.Log;
 
 import androidx.test.filters.LargeTest;
 import androidx.test.runner.AndroidJUnit4;
@@ -55,6 +56,7 @@
 import com.android.launcher3.tapl.OverviewTask;
 import com.android.launcher3.tapl.TestHelpers;
 import com.android.launcher3.testcomponent.TestCommandReceiver;
+import com.android.launcher3.testing.TestProtocol;
 import com.android.launcher3.util.Wait;
 import com.android.launcher3.util.rule.FailureWatcher;
 import com.android.quickstep.views.RecentsView;
@@ -172,9 +174,15 @@
 
     protected <T> T getFromRecents(Function<RecentsActivity, T> f) {
         if (!TestHelpers.isInLauncherProcess()) return null;
+        if (TestProtocol.sDebugTracing) {
+            Log.d(TestProtocol.GET_RECENTS_FAILED, "getFromRecents");
+        }
         Object[] result = new Object[1];
         Wait.atMost("Failed to get from recents", () -> MAIN_EXECUTOR.submit(() -> {
             RecentsActivity activity = RecentsActivity.ACTIVITY_TRACKER.getCreatedActivity();
+            if (TestProtocol.sDebugTracing) {
+                Log.d(TestProtocol.GET_RECENTS_FAILED, "activity=" + activity);
+            }
             if (activity == null) {
                 return false;
             }
@@ -200,8 +208,13 @@
                 () -> mLauncher.getRecentTasks().size() >= 3, DEFAULT_ACTIVITY_TIMEOUT, mLauncher);
 
         BaseOverview overview = mLauncher.getBackground().switchToOverview();
-        executeOnRecents(recents ->
-                assertTrue("Don't have at least 3 tasks", getTaskCount(recents) >= 3));
+        executeOnRecents(recents -> {
+            if (TestProtocol.sDebugTracing) {
+                Log.d(TestProtocol.GET_RECENTS_FAILED, "isLoading=" +
+                        recents.<RecentsView>getOverviewPanel().isLoadingTasks());
+            }
+            assertTrue("Don't have at least 3 tasks", getTaskCount(recents) >= 3);
+        });
 
         // Test flinging forward and backward.
         overview.flingForward();
diff --git a/src/com/android/launcher3/testing/TestProtocol.java b/src/com/android/launcher3/testing/TestProtocol.java
index 72bbc43..914772d 100644
--- a/src/com/android/launcher3/testing/TestProtocol.java
+++ b/src/com/android/launcher3/testing/TestProtocol.java
@@ -107,4 +107,5 @@
     public static final String NO_SWIPE_TO_HOME = "b/158017601";
     public static final String WORK_PROFILE_REMOVED = "b/159671700";
     public static final String TIS_NO_EVENTS = "b/180915942";
+    public static final String GET_RECENTS_FAILED = "b/177472267";
 }